Salem College vs. Penn State Beaver

Comparable Facts

Compare Salem College in Winston-Salem, NC with Penn State Beaver in Monaca, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Salem College is larger than Penn State Beaver based on total student enrollment (549 students vs. 482 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Salem College is located in Winston-Salem, NC (Midsize City setting); Penn State Beaver is in Monaca, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Salem College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Beaver is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Salem College 9:1; Penn State Beaver 12:1.

Salem College vs. Penn State Beaver Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Salem College or Penn State Beaver? 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 Penn State Beaver than Salem College ($18,581 vs. $18,668).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Salem College are 5.3% lower than at Penn State Beaver ($13,710 vs. $14,474).
• Salem College is 134.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn State Beaver (about $19,440 more per year; $33,848.00 vs. $14,408.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 40.3% higher at Salem College than at Penn State Beaver (about $9,714 more per year; $33,848.00 vs. $24,134.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Salem College than at Penn State Beaver (100% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Salem College students is 231.7% larger than aid received by Penn State Beaver students ($30,001 vs. $9,045).

Salem College vs. Penn State Beaver Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Salem College or Penn State Beaver? 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 Penn State Beaver and Salem College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Beaver (1190) is 40 points higher than at Salem College (1150).
• Incoming Penn State Beaver 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; Penn State Beaver 1080/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Salem College 16/22; Penn State Beaver 24/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Salem College - Test optional; Penn State Beaver - Test optional.
• Penn State Beaver has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than Salem College (76.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.9% at Salem College vs. 9.5% at Penn State Beaver.

Salem College vs. Penn State Beaver Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Salem College and Penn State Beaver? 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 Penn State Beaver's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Beaver earn a median of about $20,300 more per year than Salem College graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $35,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Penn State Beaver graduates have a $182 lower median loan debt than Salem College graduates ($26,818 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn State Beaver graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Salem College graduates ($277 vs. $279).
• More Penn State Beaver graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem College students, three years after graduation. (69% 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.