Salem College
#6 Smallest Colleges in America- Graduation Rate
- 57% C
- About half of students who start complete their degree
- Earnings (10yr)
- $44,640 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $18,277 C
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 77% C
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C overall grade — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges. 14.6× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $14.6 over 20 years. Ranked #6 in Smallest Colleges in America.
Every $1 spent returns $14.6 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $992,040.
What The Data Says
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A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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Every $1 invested returns $14.6 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Salem College Matters
Salem College is a private liberal arts college in Winston-Salem, NC and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Private Liberal Arts College
- Carnegie Class
- Baccalaureate · Arts & Sciences
- Enrollment
- 423
- Setting
- Urban
- Primary Strengths
- Visual & Performing Arts, Business & Marketing, Health Professions, Social Sciences
Why students choose Salem College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Competitive — admits about 77% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1066–1243. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $18,277 a year after grants and scholarships — 7% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $44,640 ten years after enrolling — 9% above the typical college, against $26,649 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 0.8% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 85% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.40 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Salem College in Winston-Salem, NC, is a solid choice for students interested in a personalized education experience. With an enrollment of just 423, the school fosters a close-knit community where students can thrive in programs like Visual & Performing Arts, Business & Marketing, Education, and Biology. The acceptance rate of 77% means that many students can find a welcoming academic home here, especially those seeking a hands-on approach to their studies.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $44,640 within ten years. This figure highlights the potential for a decent return on investment after completing a degree. With a median debt of $26,649, graduates can navigate their financial landscape relatively well. The affordability is further underscored by a net price of $18,277, making it accessible for a range of students. The fact that 55% of students receive Pell Grants indicates a commitment to supporting those with financial need.
When it comes to the bottom line, Salem College has a cost structure that many students can manage. While the graduation rate sits at 57%, those who choose to attend often find a supportive environment that helps them to succeed. Students who thrive here tend to value community engagement, individualized attention, and a variety of academic pathways. It’s an inviting option for those looking for a nurturing atmosphere to explore their educational goals.
Rankings
- #6 Smallest Colleges in America
- #10 Best Colleges for Cross-Class Networks
- #15 Best Nursing Colleges in North Carolina
- #21 Best Education Colleges in North Carolina
- #22 Best Online Colleges in North Carolina
- #24 Best Colleges in North Carolina
- #24 Best Bachelor's Programs in North Carolina
- #24 Best Master's Programs in North Carolina
Can I Get In?
How selective Salem College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Salem College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Salem College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 77%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,082. The graduation rate is roughly 57%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 77%
- Retention Rate
- 68%
- SAT Average
- 1082
- ACT Midpoint
- 19
- SAT Range
- 1066–1243
- ACT Range
- 16–22
- Full-Time Faculty
- 51%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $6,493
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 16:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.68
- First-Gen Students
- 33%
- Applicants
- 1,159
- Admitted
- 1,014
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Salem College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Salem College is $33,848, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $18,277. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $19,074 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,649 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $33,848
- Out-of-State
- $33,848
- Avg Net Price
- $18,277
- Median Debt
- $26,649
- Pell Grant Rate
- 55%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 45%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $19,074
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $16,001
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $16,147
- Family Income $110K+
- $24,027
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Salem College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Salem College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Salem College report median earnings of $44,640, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $38,496
- 8 Years
- $42,430
- 10 Years
- $44,640
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.6x
- Earning > $25K
- 60%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (128)
- 64%
- 100% (128)
- 64%
- 100% (128)
- 64%
- 100% (128)
- 64%
How Salem Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Salem College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Salem College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $18,277/year ($73,108 total). Graduates earn $44,640 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,065,148 in total earnings — a net gain of $992,040 (14.6× your investment). The median debt is $26,649, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 57% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $73,108
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,065,148
- Net Return
- $992,040
- ROI Multiple
- 14.6×
- Cost Per Year
- $18,277
- Median Debt
- $26,649
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 57%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Salem College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Salem College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.85%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 14.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $84,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 0.85%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 14.1%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 6.0%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $114,398
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $2,932,936
- Investment Income
- $-6,311,615
Top Programs
The fields Salem College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Visual & Performing Arts 16%
- Business & Marketing 14% $39,121 early-career
- Health Professions 14%
- Social Sciences 11%
- Psychology 7% $30,912 early-career
- English & Literature 7%
- Biology & Biomedical 6% $32,182 early-career
- Education 4% $35,271 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Salem College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
- B-Optometrist$131,860 · 9% growthResilient 96
- CPurchasing Manager$131,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- B+Physician Assistant$130,020 · 28% growthResilient 96
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Salem College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Salem College admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 77%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,082. The graduation rate is roughly 57%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Salem College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Salem College is $33,848, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $18,277. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $19,074 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $26,649 in federal student loans.
Is Salem College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Salem College report median earnings of $44,640, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Salem College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Salem College is a measurable contributor to upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 0.85%, in line with strong performers nationally. About 6% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 14.1% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $84,200, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Salem College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Salem College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.40, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.09), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Salem College.
- Hannibal-LaGrange UniversityHannibal, MO · Close peer47% grad $42,643 earn 73% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Stephens CollegeColumbia, MO · Close peer45% grad $43,071 earn 77% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- Rosemont CollegeRosemont, PA · Close peer49% grad $48,555 earn 76% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Sweet Briar CollegeSweet Briar, VA · Close peer50% grad $51,943 earn 76% acceptWhy: similar selectivity · similar grad rate · similar size
- Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological SeminaryAnkeny, IA · Close peer64% grad $40,650 earn 68% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Blackburn CollegeCarlinville, IL · Close peer55% grad $46,802 earn 63% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Salem College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Salem College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.40, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (-0.09), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note