Salem College vs. SWU

Should I go to Salem College or Southern Wesleyan University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Salem College or SWU 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.
Add a college to compare up to four schools

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

Meredith AU
Salem College vs. Southern Wesleyan University comparison
Salem College Southern Wesleyan University College 3 College 4
Salem College
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

 Salem College SWU
Location Winston Salem, NC Central, SC
Setting Midsize City Distant Town
Enrollment 469 1,175
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #826
Religious Affiliation Moravian Church Wesleyan - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website salem.edu edu.
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Salem College SWU
Tuition (In State) $30,500 $26,520
Tuition (Out of State) $30,500 $26,520
Room & Board $12,300 $9,650
Avg Net Price $18,354 $17,639
Avg Grant Aid $30,048 $19,636
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

 Salem College SWU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,159 846
Admitted 1,014 433
Acceptance Rate 87.5% 51.2%
Enrolled % 9% 34.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 4.0
Typical High School Grades B+ A/A+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/21 19/23
SAT Range 1053/1200 1013/1160
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 SWU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (20%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Business (66%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Philosophy and Religious Studies (3%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (3%)
  • Psychology (3%)

Outcomes

 Salem College SWU
Graduation Rate 53% 42%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $35,000 $44,800
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 50%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $279

Diversity

 Salem College SWU
% Men 3% 33%
% Women 97% 67%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 55% 63%
% Black 22% 28%
% Hispanic 12% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 4% 1%

Students

 Salem College SWU
% In-State 78% 58%
% Out-of-State 22% 42%

Campus

 Salem College SWU
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

  • Southern Wesleyan University is larger than than Salem College based on total student enrollment (1,175 students vs. 469 students)

Salem College vs. SWU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Salem College or SWU?

  • Salem College is 15% more expensive to attend than SWU for in-state tuition ($30,500.00 vs. $26,520.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 15% higher at Salem College than Southern Wesleyan University ($30,500.00 vs. $26,520.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southern Wesleyan University than Salem College ($17,639 vs. $18,354)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Wesleyan University are 27.5% lower than costs at Salem College ($9,650 vs. $12,300)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Salem College as Southern Wesleyan University (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Salem College students is 53% larger than aid received Southern Wesleyan University ($30,048 vs. $19,636)

Salem College vs. SWU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman SWU students have a 0.7 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Salem College (3.3)
  • Salem College has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than SWU (51.2%)

Salem College vs. SWU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Salem College is higher than Southern Wesleyan University (53% vs. 42%)
  • Graduates from Southern Wesleyan University earn on average $9,800 more per year than Salem College graduates after ten years. ($44,800 vs. $35,000)
  • Southern Wesleyan University and Salem College graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($27,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Southern Wesleyan University and Salem College graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($279 vs. $279)
  • More Salem College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SWU students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 50%)

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