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USC Beaufort ASU Lander University LSUS Winthrop University Meredith UofSC Limestone University Newberry College University of South Carolina-Upstate AASU Francis Marion University| Salem College | University of South Carolina Aiken | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Salem College | USC Aiken | ||
| Location | Winston Salem, NC | Aiken, SC | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 469 | 3,840 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #888 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | Moravian Church | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | salem.edu | usca.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Salem College | USC Aiken | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $30,500 | $10,398 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $30,500 | $20,856 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,300 | $8,376 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $18,354 | $11,872 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $30,048 | $9,891 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 100% |
Admission |
Salem College | USC Aiken | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 1,159 | 2,453 | ||
| Admitted | 1,014 | 1,855 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 87.5% | 75.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 9% | 29.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.3 | 3.19 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 17/21 | 18/24 | ||
| SAT Range | 1053/1200 | 950/1180 | ||
| 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 | Aug 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Salem College | USC Aiken | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Salem College | USC Aiken | ||
| Graduation Rate | 53% | 41% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $35,000 | $39,600 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 54% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $26,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $268 |
Diversity |
Salem College | USC Aiken | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 3% | 36% | ||
| % Women | 97% | 64% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 55% | 58% | ||
| % Black | 22% | 27% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 4% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 1% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 2% |
Students |
Salem College | USC Aiken | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 78% | 87% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 22% | 11% | ||
Campus |
Salem College | USC Aiken | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of South Carolina Aiken is larger than than Salem College based on total student enrollment (3,840 students vs. 469 students)
Salem College vs. USC Aiken Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Salem College or USC Aiken?
- Salem College is 193.3% more expensive to attend than USC Aiken for in-state tuition ($30,500.00 vs. $10,398.00)
- Out of state tuition is 46.2% higher at Salem College than University of South Carolina Aiken ($30,500.00 vs. $20,856.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Carolina Aiken than Salem College ($11,872 vs. $18,354)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Aiken are 46.8% lower than costs at Salem College ($8,376 vs. $12,300)
- The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Salem College as University of South Carolina Aiken (100% vs. 100%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Salem College students is 203.8% larger than aid received University of South Carolina Aiken ($30,048 vs. $9,891)
Salem College vs. USC Aiken Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Salem College or USC Aiken? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between USC Aiken or Salem College .
- The average SAT score at Salem College (1119) is 143 points higher than at USC Aiken (976)
- Incoming Salem College students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at USC Aiken (21)
- Accepted freshman Salem College students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at USC Aiken (3.19)
- Salem College has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than USC Aiken (75.6%)
Salem College vs. USC Aiken Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Salem College or USC Aiken? 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 USC Aiken and Salem College.
- The graduation rate at Salem College is higher than University of South Carolina Aiken (53% vs. 41%)
- Graduates from University of South Carolina Aiken earn on average $4,600 more per year than Salem College graduates after ten years. ($39,600 vs. $35,000)
- University of South Carolina Aiken students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Salem College graduates. ($26,000 vs. $27,000)
- USC Aiken graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than Salem College graduates. ($268 vs. $279)
- More USC Aiken graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem College students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/