Salem College vs. Columbia College

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

Salem College Columbia College
Location Winston Salem, NC Columbia, SC
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 469 1,514
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #913
Religious Affiliation Moravian Church United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website salem.edu columbiasc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Salem College Columbia College
Tuition (In State) $30,500 $21,250
Tuition (Out of State) $30,500 $21,250
Room & Board $12,300 $8,400
Avg Net Price $18,354 $18,779
Avg Grant Aid $30,048 $16,089
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 97%

Admission

Salem College Columbia College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,159 2,176
Admitted 1,014 2,135
Acceptance Rate 87.5% 98.1%
Enrolled % 9% 8.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 3.56
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/21 14/18
SAT Range 1053/1200 850/1140
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 Columbia College
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (20%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Business (12%)
  • Human Services (9%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)

Outcomes

Salem College Columbia College
Graduation Rate 53% 50%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $35,000 $34,700
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 43%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $25,264
Median Loan Payment $279 $261

Diversity

Salem College Columbia College
% Men 3% 15%
% Women 97% 85%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 55% 55%
% Black 22% 34%
% Hispanic 12% 4%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

Salem College Columbia College
% In-State 78% 76%
% Out-of-State 22% 22%

Campus

Salem College Columbia College
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

  • Columbia College is larger than than Salem College based on total student enrollment (1,514 students vs. 469 students)

Salem College vs. Columbia College Cost Comparison

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

  • Salem College is 43.5% more expensive to attend than Columbia College for in-state tuition ($30,500.00 vs. $21,250.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 43.5% higher at Salem College than Columbia College ($30,500.00 vs. $21,250.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Salem College than Columbia College ($18,354 vs. $18,779)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia College are 46.4% lower than costs at Salem College ($8,400 vs. $12,300)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Salem College than Columbia College (100% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Salem College students is 86.8% larger than aid received Columbia College ($30,048 vs. $16,089)

Salem College vs. Columbia College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Salem College (1119) is 148 points higher than at Columbia College (971)
  • Incoming Salem College students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at Columbia College (21)
  • Accepted freshman Columbia College students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at Salem College (3.3)
  • Columbia College has a higher acceptance rate (98.1%) than Salem College (87.5%)

Salem College vs. Columbia College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Salem College or Columbia 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 Columbia College and Salem College.

  • The graduation rate at Salem College is higher than Columbia College (53% vs. 50%)
  • Graduates from Salem College earn on average $300 more per year than Columbia College graduates after ten years. ($35,000 vs. $34,700)
  • Columbia College students graduate with a $1,736 lower median federal student loan debt than Salem College graduates. ($25,264 vs. $27,000)
  • Columbia College graduates are paying $18 less per month on federal student loans than Salem College graduates. ($261 vs. $279)
  • More Salem College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia College students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 43%)

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