Salem College vs. HSC- Hampden-Sydney

Comparable Facts

Compare Salem College in Winston-Salem, NC with Hampden Sydney College in Hampden-Sydney, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Hampden Sydney College is larger than Salem College based on total student enrollment (946 students vs. 549 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Salem College is located in Winston-Salem, NC (Midsize City setting); Hampden Sydney College is in Hampden-Sydney, VA (Distant Rural setting).
• Salem College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Hampden Sydney College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Salem College 9:1; Hampden Sydney College 9:1.

Salem College vs. HSC- Hampden-Sydney Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Salem College or HSC- Hampden-Sydney? 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 HSC- Hampden-Sydney ($18,668 vs. $29,717).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Salem College are 18.1% lower than at Hampden Sydney College ($13,710 vs. $16,732).
• Hampden Sydney College is 61.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Salem College (about $20,702 more per year; $54,550.00 vs. $33,848.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 61.2% higher at HSC- Hampden-Sydney than at Salem College (about $20,702 more per year; $54,550.00 vs. $33,848.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Salem College as at Hampden Sydney College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Hampden Sydney College students is 35.7% larger than aid received by Salem College students ($40,720 vs. $30,001).

Salem College vs. HSC- Hampden-Sydney Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Salem College or HSC- Hampden-Sydney? 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 HSC- Hampden-Sydney and Salem College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Salem College (1150) is 10 points higher than at HSC- Hampden-Sydney (1140).
• Incoming HSC- Hampden-Sydney 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; Hampden Sydney College 1030/1250.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Salem College 16/22; Hampden Sydney College 23/28.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Salem College - Test optional; HSC- Hampden-Sydney - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: HSC- Hampden-Sydney Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman HSC- Hampden-Sydney students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at Salem College (3.3).
• Salem College has a higher acceptance rate (76.7%) than HSC- Hampden-Sydney (40.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.9% at Salem College vs. 22.8% at HSC- Hampden-Sydney.

Salem College vs. HSC- Hampden-Sydney Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Salem College and HSC- Hampden-Sydney? 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).

• Hampden Sydney College's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than Salem College's (53%).
• Graduates from Hampden Sydney College earn a median of about $19,000 more per year than Salem College graduates about ten years after starting college ($54,000 vs. $35,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Hampden Sydney College and Salem College graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Hampden Sydney College and Salem College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More HSC- Hampden-Sydney graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem College students, three years after graduation. (75% 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.