Catawba College vs. Salem College

Should I go to Catawba College or Salem College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Catawba College or Salem College is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Catawba College vs. Salem College comparison
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Catawba College Salem College
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Overview

Catawba College Salem College
Location Salisbury, NC Winston Salem, NC
Setting Distant Town Midsize City
Enrollment 1,172 469
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #515
Religious Affiliation - Moravian Church - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website catawba.edu salem.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Catawba College Salem College
Tuition (In State) $32,868 $30,500
Tuition (Out of State) $32,868 $30,500
Room & Board $11,576 $12,300
Avg Net Price $19,701 $18,354
Avg Grant Aid $26,913 $30,048
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Catawba College Salem College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 3,199 1,159
Admitted 2,146 1,014
Acceptance Rate 67.1% 87.5%
Enrolled % 13.9% 9%
Avg High School GPA 3.64 3.3
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/27 17/21
SAT Range 1000/1210 1053/1200
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 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Catawba College Salem College
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (32%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (12%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)
  • Communication (5%)
  • Social Sciences (20%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • English and Literature (7%)

Outcomes

Catawba College Salem College
Graduation Rate 54% 53%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,000 $35,000
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 53%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $279

Diversity

Catawba College Salem College
% Men 48% 3%
% Women 52% 97%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 69% 55%
% Black 19% 22%
% Hispanic 5% 12%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 0% 4%

Students

Catawba College Salem College
% In-State 61% 78%
% Out-of-State 34% 22%

Campus

Catawba College Salem College
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Catawba College is larger than than Salem College based on total student enrollment (1,172 students vs. 469 students)

Catawba College vs. Salem College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Catawba College or Salem College?

  • Catawba College is 7.8% more expensive to attend than Salem College for in-state tuition ($32,868.00 vs. $30,500.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 7.8% higher at Catawba College than Salem College ($32,868.00 vs. $30,500.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Salem College than Catawba College ($18,354 vs. $19,701)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Catawba College are 6.3% lower than costs at Salem College ($11,576 vs. $12,300)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Catawba College as Salem College (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Salem College students is 11.6% larger than aid received Catawba College ($30,048 vs. $26,913)

Catawba College vs. Salem College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Catawba College or Salem College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Salem College or Catawba College .

  • The average SAT score at Salem College (1119) is 129 points higher than at Catawba College (990)
  • Incoming Salem College students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Catawba College (21)
  • Accepted freshman Catawba College students have a 0.34 point higher average high school GPA (3.64) than students at Salem College (3.3)
  • Salem College has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than Catawba College (67.1%)

Catawba College vs. Salem College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Catawba College 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 Catawba College.

  • The graduation rate at Catawba College is higher than Salem College (54% vs. 53%)
  • Graduates from Catawba College earn on average $7,000 more per year than Salem College graduates after ten years. ($42,000 vs. $35,000)
  • Catawba College students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Salem College graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Catawba College graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Salem College graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
  • More Catawba College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem College students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 53%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/