Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
George Washington Georgetown Fordham Syracuse Mason Lafayette College DU Drexel William & Mary Elon University of Richmond Bucknell| American University | Salem College | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
AU | Salem College | ||
| Location | Washington, DC | Winston Salem, NC | ||
| Setting | Large City | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 13,019 | 519 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #84 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | United Methodist | Moravian Church | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | american.edu | salem.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
AU | Salem College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $55,724 | $31,720 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $55,724 | $31,720 | ||
| Room & Board | $17,012 | $13,056 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $40,189 | $19,000 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $31,402 | $28,860 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 62% | 100% |
Admission |
AU | Salem College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 17,786 | 1,951 | ||
| Admitted | 8,427 | 1,698 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 47.4% | 87% | ||
| Enrolled % | 22% | 9.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.7 | 3.3 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | A- | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Exceptional | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | 29/33 | 18/27 | ||
| SAT Range | 1300/1450 | 1078/1315 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jan 15, 2025 |
Academics |
AU | Salem College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 10:1 | 7:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
AU | Salem College | ||
| Graduation Rate | 77% | 53% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $64,800 | $35,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 80% | 53% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,250 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $250 | $279 |
Diversity |
AU | Salem College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 15% | 2% | ||
| % Women | 25% | 14% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 58% | 55% | ||
| % Black | 7% | 22% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 12% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 3% | ||
| % International | 7% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 4% |
Students |
AU | Salem College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 2% | 78% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 94% | 22% | ||
Campus |
AU | Salem College | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- American University is larger than than Salem College based on total student enrollment (13,019 students vs. 519 students)
AU vs. Salem College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, AU or Salem College?
- American University is 75.7% more expensive to attend than Salem College for in-state tuition ($55,724.00 vs. $31,720.00)
- Out of state tuition is 75.7% higher at AU than Salem College ($55,724.00 vs. $31,720.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Salem College than AU ($19,000 vs. $40,189)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Salem College are 30.3% lower than costs at American University ($13,056 vs. $17,012)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Salem College than American University (100% vs. 62%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by American University students is 8.8% larger than aid received Salem College ($31,402 vs. $28,860)
AU vs. Salem College Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, AU or Salem College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Salem College or AU .
- The average SAT score at American University (1252) is 133 points higher than at Salem College (1119)
- Incoming AU students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (28) than students at Salem College (25)
- Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Salem College (3.3)
- Salem College has a higher acceptance rate (87%) than AU (47.4%)
AU vs. Salem College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, AU or Salem College? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Salem College and AU.
- The graduation rate at AU is higher than Salem College (77% vs. 53%)
- Graduates from American University earn on average $29,800 more per year than Salem College graduates after ten years. ($64,800 vs. $35,000)
- American University students graduate with a $2,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Salem College graduates. ($24,250 vs. $27,000)
- AU graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than Salem College graduates. ($250 vs. $279)
- More AU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem College students, three years after graduation. (80% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/