Salem College vs. SU

Should I go to Salem College or Shenandoah University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Salem College or SU 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. Shenandoah University comparison
Salem College Shenandoah University College 3 College 4
Salem College Shenandoah University
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Overview

Salem College SU
Location Winston Salem, NC Winchester, VA
Setting Midsize City Small City
Enrollment 469 4,260
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #537
Religious Affiliation Moravian Church United Methodist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website salem.edu su.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Salem College SU
Tuition (In State) $30,500 $33,790
Tuition (Out of State) $30,500 $33,790
Room & Board $12,300 $11,230
Avg Net Price $18,354 $26,143
Avg Grant Aid $30,048 $23,467
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Salem College SU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,159 2,296
Admitted 1,014 1,845
Acceptance Rate 87.5% 80.4%
Enrolled % 9% 25.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 3.7
Typical High School Grades B+ A-
Admissions Standards Very Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/21 19/26
SAT Range 1053/1200 1010/1230
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Aug 1, 2025

Academics

Salem College SU
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%)
  • Health Professions (36%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (17%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Biology (4%)

Outcomes

Salem College SU
Graduation Rate 53% 45%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $35,000 $48,300
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 60%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $258

Diversity

Salem College SU
% Men 3% 32%
% Women 97% 68%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 55% 59%
% Black 22% 11%
% Hispanic 12% 6%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 1% 4%
% Unknown Race 4% 13%

Students

Salem College SU
% In-State 78% 52%
% Out-of-State 22% 48%

Campus

Salem College SU
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

  • Shenandoah University is larger than than Salem College based on total student enrollment (4,260 students vs. 469 students)

Salem College vs. SU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Salem College or SU?

  • Shenandoah University is 10.8% more expensive to attend than Salem College for in-state tuition ($33,790.00 vs. $30,500.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 10.8% higher at SU than Salem College ($33,790.00 vs. $30,500.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Salem College than SU ($18,354 vs. $26,143)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Shenandoah University are 9.5% lower than costs at Salem College ($11,230 vs. $12,300)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Salem College as Shenandoah University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Salem College students is 28% larger than aid received Shenandoah University ($30,048 vs. $23,467)

Salem College vs. SU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Salem College (1119) is 114 points higher than at SU (1005)
  • Incoming Salem College students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at SU (22)
  • Accepted freshman SU students have a 0.4 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Salem College (3.3)
  • Salem College has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than SU (80.4%)

Salem College vs. SU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Salem College or SU? 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 SU and Salem College.

  • The graduation rate at Salem College is higher than Shenandoah University (53% vs. 45%)
  • Graduates from Shenandoah University earn on average $13,300 more per year than Salem College graduates after ten years. ($48,300 vs. $35,000)
  • Shenandoah University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Salem College graduates. ($25,000 vs. $27,000)
  • SU graduates are paying $21 less per month on federal student loans than Salem College graduates. ($258 vs. $279)
  • More SU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem College students, three years after graduation. (60% vs. 53%)

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