Spalding University

Spalding University logo
#4553 / #1188
Global Influence / U.S. Influence
#1236
Most Desirable School
Private Roman Catholic university

Spalding University at a Glance

U.S. influence rank
#1188
Acceptance rate (fall 2024)
99%
Tuition and fees (2025–26)
$30,450
Graduation rate
45%
Undergraduates (fall 2024)
583

Reviewed by , Vice President and Academic Editor. Influence ranks come from our InfluenceRanking™ methodology; other figures come from federal data, with the year shown under each section. Report an error

Spalding University Featured Rankings

About Spalding University

According to Wikipedia, Spalding University is a private Catholic university in Louisville, Kentucky. It is affiliated with the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth. History Spalding University traces its origins to Nazareth Academy, one of the oldest educational institution west of the Alleghenies. Nazareth Academy was founded in 1814 by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth and was located in Nelson County near Bardstown, Kentucky. Spalding was named after Mother Catherine Spalding, foundress of the Sisters.

Spalding University Admissions, Retention, and Graduation Information

Annual ApplicationsAcceptanceRetention RateGraduation RateMedian SAT ScoreMedian ACT Score
80799%64%45%95618

Source: U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and NCES); acceptance rate for fall 2024; test scores for fall 2024; applications and enrollment for fall 2023; retention for students who started in fall 2023; graduation rate within six years for students who started in 2019.

How Much Does Spalding University Cost To Attend?

Tuition and fees (in-state)
$30,450
Average Net Price by Family Income (2021–22)
IncomeAverage Net Cost
0 - 30K$19,443
30K - 48K$19,548
48K - 75K$22,065
75K - 110K$26,719
110K+$31,540

Source: U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard and NCES); tuition and fees for 2025–26; net price for 2024–25, for first-time, full-time students receiving financial aid.

How Much Do Spalding University Graduates Make?

Ten years after starting college, former Spalding University students who received federal financial aid earn a median of $55,738 a year, and 92% of those not still in school are working.

Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard; students who started college in 2011–12 or 2012–13, measured in 2022 and 2023, in 2024 dollars.

Spalding University's Demographics

Students enrolled at any time during the 2023–24 school year, including part-time and online students.

Student BodyUnder-GradsGraduates
1,9269071,019

Source: National Center for Education Statistics; 12-month enrollment for 2023–24.

Where is Spalding University?

Spalding University is located at 901 S Fourth Street, Louisville, KY 40203-2188.

How Safe is Spalding University?

Relative to its enrollment, Spalding University has a violent crime rate of less than 0.01% and a property crime rate of 0.52%. Sources: campus: U.S. Department of Education Campus Safety and Security data, on-campus offenses in 2024 (violent: murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault; property: burglary, motor vehicle theft and arson, which excludes ordinary theft).

What Is Spalding University Known For?

Spalding University is known for its academic work in the following disciplines:

Spalding University's Top Areas of Influence With Degrees Offered

Each rank compares how much Spalding University's faculty and alumni have shaped a field with other schools, using Wikipedia, Wikidata and scholarly citation databases such as Crossref and Semantic Scholar. World and U.S. ranks reflect modern influence; the historical rank counts influence across all time. How we rank influence

Psychology
#1526
World Rank
#1539
Historical Rank
#590
USA Rank

Spalding University ranks #590 in the U.S. and #1526 worldwide for influence in Psychology.

psychology Degrees
Criminal Justice
#1698
World Rank
#1703
Historical Rank
#900
USA Rank

Spalding University ranks #900 in the U.S. and #1698 worldwide for influence in Criminal Justice.

criminal-justice Degrees
Communications
#3774
World Rank
#3803
Historical Rank
#997
USA Rank

Spalding University ranks #997 in the U.S. and #3774 worldwide for influence in Communications.

communications Degrees
Business
#4446
World Rank
#4447
Historical Rank
#1203
USA Rank

Spalding University ranks #1203 in the U.S. and #4446 worldwide for influence in Business.

business Degrees
Social Work
#3304
World Rank
#3304
Historical Rank
#1354
USA Rank

Spalding University ranks #1354 in the U.S. and #3304 worldwide for influence in Social Work.

social-work Degrees
Sociology
#4424
World Rank
#4427
Historical Rank
#1389
USA Rank

Spalding University ranks #1389 in the U.S. and #4424 worldwide for influence in Sociology.

sociology Degrees
Biology
#6243
World Rank
#6264
Historical Rank
#1521
USA Rank

Spalding University ranks #1521 in the U.S. and #6243 worldwide for influence in Biology.

biology Degrees
Nursing
#4171
World Rank
#4171
Historical Rank
#1655
USA Rank

Spalding University ranks #1655 in the U.S. and #4171 worldwide for influence in Nursing.

nursing Degrees
Education
#6817
World Rank
#6819
Historical Rank
#1775
USA Rank

Spalding University ranks #1775 in the U.S. and #6817 worldwide for influence in Education.

education Degrees
Medical
#6567
World Rank
#6568
Historical Rank
#1905
USA Rank

Spalding University ranks #1905 in the U.S. and #6567 worldwide for influence in Medical.

medicine Degrees

Who Are Spalding University's Most Influential Alumni?

Spalding University's most influential alumni include professors and professionals in the fields of Psychology, Criminal Justice, and Literature. Here are some of Spalding University's most famous alumni:

Diana Raab
Diana Raab
An American writer, memoirist, essayist, poet and teacher.
Elmer Lucille Allen
A Ceramic artist and chemist.
Richard Goodman
An American writer.
David Allen Patterson
A Native American academic.
Crystal Wilkinson
Crystal Wilkinson
An American poet and educator.
Parneshia Jones
Parneshia Jones
An American poet.
Lois Ann Pfiester
A Botanist.

Who Are Spalding University's Most Influential Faculty?

Spalding University's most influential faculty include professors in the fields of Psychology, Criminal Justice, and Literature. Here are some of Spalding University's most famous faculty:

Shane McCrae
An American writer.
Sheila Callaghan
Sheila Callaghan
An American writer.
Lamar Giles
Lamar Giles
An American author.