Salem College vs. Coastal Carolina

Comparable Facts

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

Coastal Carolina University is larger than Salem College based on total student enrollment (11,348 students vs. 549 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Salem College is located in Winston-Salem, NC (Midsize City setting); Coastal Carolina University is in Conway, SC (Small City setting).
• Salem College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Coastal Carolina University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Salem College 9:1; Coastal Carolina University 17:1.

Salem College vs. Coastal Carolina Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Salem College or Coastal Carolina? 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 Coastal Carolina University than Salem College ($14,379 vs. $18,668).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Coastal Carolina University are 11.4% lower than at Salem College ($12,146 vs. $13,710).
• Salem College is 190.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Coastal Carolina (about $22,208 more per year; $33,848.00 vs. $11,640.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.2% higher at Salem College than at Coastal Carolina University (about $4,220 more per year; $33,848.00 vs. $29,628.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Salem College than at Coastal Carolina University (100% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Salem College students is 197.4% larger than aid received by Coastal Carolina University students ($30,001 vs. $10,087).

Salem College vs. Coastal Carolina Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Salem College or Coastal Carolina? 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 Coastal Carolina and Salem College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Salem College (1150) is 10 points higher than at Coastal Carolina (1140).
• Incoming Coastal Carolina students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (23 vs. 19 at Salem College).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Salem College 1066/1243; Coastal Carolina University 1050/1220.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Salem College 16/22; Coastal Carolina University 21/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Salem College - Test optional; Coastal Carolina - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Coastal Carolina 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 Coastal Carolina (75.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.9% at Salem College vs. 16.9% at Coastal Carolina.

Salem College vs. Coastal Carolina Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Salem College and Coastal Carolina? 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 Coastal Carolina University's (46%).
• Graduates from Coastal Carolina University earn a median of about $7,200 more per year than Salem College graduates about ten years after starting college ($42,200 vs. $35,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Coastal Carolina University graduates have a $2,070 lower median loan debt than Salem College graduates ($24,930 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Coastal Carolina graduates have an estimated $22 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Salem College graduates ($257 vs. $279).
• More Coastal Carolina graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem College students, three years after graduation. (54% 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.