Salem College
#6 Smallest Colleges in AmericaBottom 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.
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What The Data Says
A C overall — outcomes trail most U.S. colleges on measured metrics.
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, Education, Biology & Biomedical
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 86% 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
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 keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 77% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,082. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 57%.
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
When weighing the true cost of attending Salem College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $33,848 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $18,277 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $19,074 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $26,649.
What Families Actually Pay
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Salem College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Salem College report median earnings of $44,640; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
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.
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 useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
Top Programs
The fields Salem College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Salem College's most popular programs, with median pay and projected growth.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Salem College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements +
Based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, Salem College keeps admissions accessible, extending offers to roughly 77% of those who apply. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,082. The school reports a graduation rate of roughly 57%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Salem College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +
When weighing the true cost of attending Salem College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $33,848 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $18,277 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $19,074 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $26,649.
Is Salem College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI +
Ten years out, alumni of Salem College report median earnings of $44,640; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.
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 useful read on 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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.40 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.09), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely 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.
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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.40 (about 1.0 is the national norm). Its friending bias is low (-0.09), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds genuinely mix rather than self-segregate. Around 11% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note