Admit rate has ranged 80%–90% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Salem College, nestled in downtown Winston-Salem, NC, is a historic women's college with a growing enrollment and a focus on the liberal arts. Known for its intimate campus vibe and programs like interior design and visual arts, it balances tradition with a recent surge in applications—up 454% since 2021. While not highly selective (78.9% acceptance rate), it boasts strong financial aid support (95% of first-years receive need-based aid) and a six-year graduation rate of 75%.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Letters of recommendation
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
423
In-state tuition
$33,848
Out-of-state tuition
$33,848
Founded
1772
Location
Winston-Salem, NC
Acceptance Rate
78.9%
Female Enrollment
99.6%
Six-Year Grad Rate
75%
Need-Based Aid Recipients
95%
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$44,640
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.4×
Median debt at graduation
$26,649
Graduation rate
57%
First-year retention
68%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
54%
Pell (lower-income) share
69%
First-generation share
33%
Endowment / student
$143,050
Financial health
2.4 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Business Administration, Management and Operations$32,925
Education, General$29,685
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
2
Per 1,000 students
4.73
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
99
Summer high
87°F
Winter low
34°F
Annual rain
45.5"
Annual snow
4.9"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
65
Scholarly works
1,714
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
0.8%
Bottom → top quintile
14%
From bottom quintile
6%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Salem College?
Salem College's acceptance rate is approximately 77% (Winston-Salem, NC), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Salem College?
Admitted students at Salem College typically score 1066–1243 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Salem College cost?
At Salem College, the average net price (after aid) is about $18,277 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Salem College?
Salem College enrolls approximately 423 undergraduate students.
Where is Salem College located?
Salem College is located in Winston-Salem, NC.
Admissions
Salem College is not selective, with a 78.9% acceptance rate (Prepscholar, Niche). For Fall 2025, it saw record-breaking enrollment growth: 222 new undergraduates (a 27% increase), with 3,219 total applications—a 43% jump from 2024 and a staggering 454% increase since 2021 (Salem College news). The middle 50% SAT range for admitted students is 1060–1315, and ACT scores hover between comparable brackets (BigFuture, Niche). Notably, the campus shares its 57-acre grounds with Salem Academy, an all-girls boarding high school (Salem Fast Facts).
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Academics
Salem offers a liberal arts-heavy curriculum, with popular majors including Interior Design, Business Administration, Psychology, and Fine Arts (US News, Facebook). The visual and performing arts program stands out, with concentrations in art history, studio art, pre-art therapy, and music (Salem Academics). Other notable programs include Race and Ethnicity Studies and English (Facebook). The college emphasizes experiential learning through initiatives like the RISE Leadership Program and Study Away opportunities (Salem Majors BA).
With 99.6% female enrollment (US News), Salem fosters a tight-knit community. Weekends feature food trucks, Fall Fest skit competitions, and arts events (Salem Vibrant Campus, Student Life). The Center for Campus Culture and Care runs workshops on cultural competence and empathy (Campus Culture Center). Located in downtown Winston-Salem, students tap into the city’s thriving arts scene—a perk highlighted in campus marketing (Salem.edu). Enrollment remains small (464 undergraduates in Fall 2024), reinforcing its intimate vibe (US News).
Salem’s six-year graduation rate is 75% (Salem Outcomes), outperforming its four-year rate (51%)—which still ranks top 40% nationally (Research.com). For Pell Grant recipients, the six-year rate dips slightly to 65% (Salem Outcomes). Alumni median earnings one year post-graduation are $36,427 (Niche), though some reports suggest employment outcomes lag national averages (EDsmart). The College Scorecard notes mixed ROI data, with debt-to-earnings ratios varying by major (College Scorecard).
After aid, Salem’s average net price is $19,000 (BigFuture). A robust 95% of first-years receive need-based aid, with average awards of $13,565 (US News). The college promotes its Net Price Calculator to estimate costs (Salem Financial Aid), though total aid packages can reach $32,170 (BigFuture). Notably, 89.94% of students receive some form of financial assistance (BigFuture), easing the sticker price of attendance.
Salem College carves a niche as a small, historic women’s college with a surprising recent enrollment surge (454% app increase since 2021). Its arts-heavy curriculum—especially interior design and visual arts—and strong female leadership focus (via RISE) differentiate it. While not elite in selectivity, it delivers solid graduation rates (75% at six years) and aggressive financial aid (95% coverage). The shared campus with Salem Academy adds a unique pre-college pipeline, and its Winston-Salem location offers urban cultural perks without sacrificing a quaint vibe.
Salem College logo · sourceOur Campus - Salem College · sourceSalem College - Profile, Rankings and Data | US News Best Colleges · sourceSalem College Administration Building - Wikipedia · source
