Getting in
Salem College admits 77% of those who apply, which makes it open to most applicants. The median admission rate of colleges on this site that report one is 77%. The average SAT score of admitted students is 1082 out of 1600 (midpoints: 580 in reading and writing, 547 in maths). The midpoint ACT score is 19 out of 36.
What it costs
| Tuition and fees for a year | $35,200 |
| Room and meals on campus | $14,256 |
| Books and supplies | $1,290 |
| Average full cost of a year (tuition, living, books), before aid | $50,783 |
| Average net price after grants and scholarships | $18,975 |
The net price is what students who got federal aid paid on average for a year after grants and scholarships were taken off. It is 14% above the median net price of colleges in North Carolina on this site ($16,597). International students normally pay the published tuition and do not receive US federal aid.
Net price by family income
| Family income a year | Average net price |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | $19,359 |
| $30,001 to $48,000 | $16,789 |
| $48,001 to $75,000 | $17,157 |
| $75,001 to $110,000 | $18,753 |
| Above $110,000 | $22,850 |
For students who received federal aid. A negative figure means grants were larger than the cost counted.
For an estimate that fits your own family, use the college's net price calculator.
Results
| Measure | This college | NC median | US median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Students who come back for a second year | 68% | 72% | 73% |
| Students who finish their degree (within one and a half times the normal length) | 31% | 45% | 49% |
| Median earnings 10 years after starting | $50,734 | $46,097 | $53,132 |
| Median federal loan debt of those who finish | $20,459 | $21,590 | $19,994 |
Medians are the middle value of the colleges on this site in North Carolina and in the whole country. Completion and return rates count first-time, full-time students. Earnings and debt count students who received federal aid.
The students
58% of undergraduates receive a Pell Grant, the federal grant for students from lower-income families. 45% take a federal student loan. The undergraduate body is 100% women and 0% men. By undergraduate numbers it is number 81 of the 95 colleges in North Carolina on this site that report a size; the middle-sized one has 1,276.
Other colleges in North Carolina of a similar size
- Carolina UniversityWinston-Salem, private nonprofit
- Southeastern Baptist Theological SeminaryWake Forest, private nonprofit
- Chowan UniversityMurfreesboro, private nonprofit
- Chamberlain University-North CarolinaCharlotte, private for-profit
- Pfeiffer UniversityMisenheimer, private nonprofit
- William Peace UniversityRaleigh, private nonprofit
Common questions
What is the acceptance rate of Salem College?
Salem College admits 77% of applicants, according to the College Scorecard.
How much is tuition at Salem College?
Published tuition and fees are $35,200 a year. Most students with aid pay less: see the net price.
What is the graduation rate of Salem College?
31% of first-time, full-time students finish within one and a half times the normal length of the course.
Source: College Scorecard, U.S. Department of Education, data released on 2 November 2026; checked in November 2026. Net price, debt and earnings describe students who received US federal aid. Costs change each year. This is official data for general information, not advice: confirm costs and admission rules on the college's own website and at collegescorecard.ed.gov.