Salem College vs. AU

Should I go to Salem College or Anderson University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Salem College or AU 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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Salem College vs. Anderson University comparison
Salem College Anderson University College 3 College 4
Salem College Anderson University
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Overview

 Salem College AU
Location Winston Salem, NC Anderson, SC
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 519 4,325
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #759
Religious Affiliation Moravian Church Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website salem.edu andersonuniversity.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Salem College AU
Tuition (In State) $31,720 $32,710
Tuition (Out of State) $31,720 $32,710
Room & Board $13,056 $12,290
Avg Net Price $19,000 $22,222
Avg Grant Aid $28,860 $25,586
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

 Salem College AU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,951 4,732
Admitted 1,698 2,499
Acceptance Rate 87% 52.8%
Enrolled % 9.2% 34%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 3.72
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Challenging Challenging
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 18/27 22/28
SAT Range 1078/1315 1090/1290
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

Academics

 Salem College AU
Student to Faculty Ratio 7:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (20%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Education (37%)
  • Business (36%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
  • Psychology (4%)
  • Communication (3%)

Outcomes

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

Diversity

 Salem College AU
% Men 2% 9%
% Women 14% 12%
Racial Diversity High Very Low
HBCU No No
% White 55% 83%
% Black 22% 8%
% Hispanic 12% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 2%

Students

 Salem College AU
% In-State 78% 68%
% Out-of-State 22% 31%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Anderson University is larger than than Salem College based on total student enrollment (4,325 students vs. 519 students)

Salem College vs. AU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Salem College or AU?

  • Anderson University is 3.1% more expensive to attend than Salem College for in-state tuition ($32,710.00 vs. $31,720.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 3.1% higher at AU than Salem College ($32,710.00 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. $22,222)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Anderson University are 6.2% lower than costs at Salem College ($12,290 vs. $13,056)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Salem College than Anderson University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Salem College students is 12.8% larger than aid received Anderson University ($28,860 vs. $25,586)

Salem College vs. AU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Salem College (1119) is 41 points higher than at AU (1078)
  • Incoming Salem College students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at AU (24)
  • 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 (87%) than AU (52.8%)

Salem College vs. AU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Salem College or AU? 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 AU and Salem College.

  • The graduation rate at Salem College is higher than Anderson University (53% vs. 48%)
  • Graduates from Anderson University earn on average $2,500 more per year than Salem College graduates after ten years. ($37,500 vs. $35,000)
  • Anderson University students graduate with a $138 lower median federal student loan debt than Salem College graduates. ($26,862 vs. $27,000)
  • AU graduates are paying $2 less per month on federal student loans 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/