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Seattle U UW-Seattle PLU George Fox University Whitworth University Western Washington University Central Washington University Azusa Pacific University Washington State UWB University of Portland Meredith| Salem College | Seattle Pacific University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Salem College | SPU | ||
| Location | Winston Salem, NC | Seattle, WA | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 519 | 2,659 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #246 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | Moravian Church | Free Methodist | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | salem.edu | spu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Salem College | SPU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $31,720 | $37,965 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $31,720 | $37,965 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,056 | $15,498 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,000 | $26,155 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $28,860 | $28,070 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 98% |
Admission |
Salem College | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 1,951 | 2,806 | ||
| Admitted | 1,698 | 2,556 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 87% | 91.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 9.2% | 14.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.3 | 3.53 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Challenging | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/27 | 20/28 | ||
| SAT Range | 1078/1315 | 1050/1320 | ||
| 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 | Jul 11, 2026 |
Academics |
Salem College | SPU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 7:1 | 10:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Salem College | SPU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 53% | 74% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $35,000 | $50,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 82% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $25,603 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $264 |
Diversity |
Salem College | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 2% | 6% | ||
| % Women | 14% | 16% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 55% | 61% | ||
| % Black | 22% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 10% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 8% | ||
| % International | 1% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 1% |
Students |
Salem College | SPU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 78% | 71% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 22% | 26% | ||
Campus |
Salem College | SPU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Seattle Pacific University is larger than than Salem College based on total student enrollment (2,659 students vs. 519 students)
Salem College vs. SPU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Salem College or SPU?
- Seattle Pacific University is 19.7% more expensive to attend than Salem College for in-state tuition ($37,965.00 vs. $31,720.00)
- Out of state tuition is 19.7% higher at SPU than Salem College ($37,965.00 vs. $31,720.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Salem College than SPU ($19,000 vs. $26,155)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Salem College are 18.7% lower than costs at Seattle Pacific University ($13,056 vs. $15,498)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Salem College than Seattle Pacific University (100% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Salem College students is 2.8% larger than aid received Seattle Pacific University ($28,860 vs. $28,070)
Salem College vs. SPU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Salem College or SPU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between SPU or Salem College .
- The average SAT score at Seattle Pacific University (1145) is 26 points higher than at Salem College (1119)
- Incoming SPU students have a 1 point higher average ACT score (26) than students at Salem College (25)
- Accepted freshman SPU students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at Salem College (3.3)
- SPU has a higher acceptance rate (91.1%) than Salem College (87%)
Salem College vs. SPU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Salem College or SPU? 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 SPU and Salem College.
- The graduation rate at SPU is higher than Salem College (74% vs. 53%)
- Graduates from Seattle Pacific University earn on average $15,400 more per year than Salem College graduates after ten years. ($50,400 vs. $35,000)
- Seattle Pacific University students graduate with a $1,397 lower median federal student loan debt than Salem College graduates. ($25,603 vs. $27,000)
- SPU graduates are paying $15 less per month on federal student loans than Salem College graduates. ($264 vs. $279)
- More SPU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem College students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/