Salem College vs. AU

Deciding between Salem College and Anderson University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Salem College
Anderson University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Salem College Winston-Salem, NC
  • AU Anderson, SC
  • Setting
  • Salem College Midsize City
  • AU Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Salem College 549
  • AU 4,710
  • Type
  • Salem College Private 4 Year
  • AU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Salem College
  • AU #662
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Salem College Moravian Church
  • AU Baptist
  • Status
  • Salem College Non-profit
  • AU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Salem College
  • AU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Salem College $33,848
  • AU $34,970
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Salem College $33,848
  • AU $34,970
  • Room & Board
  • Salem College $13,710
  • AU $12,720
  • Average Net Price
  • Salem College $18,668
  • AU $24,434
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Salem College $30,001
  • AU $25,969
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Salem College 100%
  • AU 98%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Salem College 2,246
  • AU 4,548
  • Admitted
  • Salem College 1,722
  • AU 2,488
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Salem College 76.7%
  • AU 54.7%
  • Enrolled
  • Salem College 7.9%
  • AU 32.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Salem College 1150
  • AU 1190
  • Typical ACT score
  • Salem College 19
  • AU 25
  • Average High School GPA
  • Salem College 3.3
  • AU 3.72
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Salem College B+
  • AU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Salem College Very Easy
  • AU Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Salem College
  • AU Low
  • ACT Range
  • Salem College 16/22
  • AU 22/29
  • SAT Range
  • Salem College 1066/1243
  • AU 1100/1280
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Salem College Test optional
  • AU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Salem College
  • AU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Salem College 9:1
  • AU 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Salem College
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Biology (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
    • English and Literature (7%)
  • AU
    • Education (37%)
    • Business (36%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (4%)
    • Communication (3%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Salem College 53%
  • AU 48%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Salem College $35,000
  • AU $37,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Salem College 53%
  • AU 60%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Salem College $27,000
  • AU $26,862
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Salem College $279
  • AU $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Salem College 2%
  • AU 42%
  • % Women
  • Salem College 98%
  • AU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Salem College High
  • AU Very Low
  • HBCU
  • Salem College No
  • AU No
  • % White
  • Salem College 55%
  • AU 83%
  • % Asian
  • Salem College 3%
  • AU 1%
  • % Black
  • Salem College 22%
  • AU 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Salem College 12%
  • AU 3%
  • % Native American
  • Salem College 0%
  • AU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Salem College 0%
  • AU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Salem College 3%
  • AU 2%
  • % International
  • Salem College 1%
  • AU 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Salem College 4%
  • AU 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Salem College 76%
  • AU 69%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Salem College 20%
  • AU 30%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Salem College Yes
  • AU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Salem College No
  • AU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Salem College Yes
  • AU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Salem College No
  • AU Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Salem College No
  • AU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Salem College in Winston-Salem, NC with Anderson University in Anderson, SC on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Anderson University is larger than Salem College based on total student enrollment (4,710 students vs. 549 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Salem College is located in Winston-Salem, NC (Midsize City setting); Anderson University is in Anderson, SC (Small City setting).
  • Salem College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Anderson University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Salem College 9:1; Anderson University 13:1.

Salem College vs. AU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Salem College or AU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Salem College than AU ($18,668 vs. $24,434).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Anderson University are 7.2% lower than at Salem College ($12,720 vs. $13,710).
  • Anderson University is 3.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Salem College (about $1,122 more per year; $34,970.00 vs. $33,848.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 3.3% higher at AU than at Salem College (about $1,122 more per year; $34,970.00 vs. $33,848.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Salem College than at Anderson University (100% vs. 98%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Salem College students is 15.5% larger than aid received by Anderson University students ($30,001 vs. $25,969).

Salem College vs. AU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Salem College or AU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between AU and Salem College.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Anderson University (1190) is 40 points higher than at Salem College (1150).
  • Incoming AU students have a 6 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 19 at Salem College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Salem College 1066/1243; Anderson University 1100/1280.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Salem College 16/22; Anderson University 22/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Salem College - Test optional; AU - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman AU students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (3.72) than students at Salem College (3.3).
  • Salem College has a higher acceptance rate (76.7%) than AU (54.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.9% at Salem College vs. 32.5% at AU.

Salem College vs. AU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Salem College and AU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Salem College's six-year graduation rate (53%) is higher than Anderson University's (48%).
  • Graduates from Anderson University earn a median of about $2,500 more per year than Salem College graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,500 vs. $35,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Anderson University graduates have a $138 lower median loan debt than Salem College graduates ($26,862 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, AU graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Salem College graduates ($277 vs. $279).
  • More AU 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/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.