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ECU ASU UNC Charlotte UNCW University of North Carolina at Asheville ETSU UNCG NC State UNC Chapel Hill University of North Carolina at Pembroke BYU GS| Salem College | Western Carolina University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Salem College | WCU | ||
| Location | Winston Salem, NC | Cullowhee, NC | ||
| Setting | Midsize City | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 469 | 11,635 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #763 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | Moravian Church | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | salem.edu | wcu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Salem College | WCU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $30,500 | $1,000 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $30,500 | $5,000 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,300 | $11,173 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $18,354 | $13,022 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $30,048 | $4,526 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 99% |
Admission |
Salem College | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 1,159 | 17,917 | ||
| Admitted | 1,014 | 15,201 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 87.5% | 84.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 9% | 12.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.3 | 3.44 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 17/21 | 19/26 | ||
| SAT Range | 1053/1200 | 1020/1240 | ||
| 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 | Mar 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Salem College | WCU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 16:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Salem College | WCU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 53% | 50% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $35,000 | $39,100 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 53% | 58% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $22,010 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $227 |
Diversity |
Salem College | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 3% | 41% | ||
| % Women | 97% | 59% | ||
| Racial Diversity | High | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 55% | 79% | ||
| % Black | 22% | 6% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 1% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 1% |
Students |
Salem College | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 78% | 80% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 22% | 18% | ||
Campus |
Salem College | WCU | ||
| 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
- Western Carolina University is larger than than Salem College based on total student enrollment (11,635 students vs. 469 students)
Salem College vs. WCU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Salem College or WCU?
- Salem College is 2,950% more expensive to attend than WCU for in-state tuition ($30,500.00 vs. $1,000.00)
- Out of state tuition is 510% higher at Salem College than Western Carolina University ($30,500.00 vs. $5,000.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Western Carolina University than Salem College ($13,022 vs. $18,354)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western Carolina University are 10.1% lower than costs at Salem College ($11,173 vs. $12,300)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Salem College than Western Carolina University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Salem College students is 563.9% larger than aid received Western Carolina University ($30,048 vs. $4,526)
Salem College vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Salem College or WCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WCU or Salem College .
- The average SAT score at Salem College (1119) is 87 points higher than at WCU (1032)
- Incoming Salem College students have a 3 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at WCU (22)
- Accepted freshman WCU students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.44) than students at Salem College (3.3)
- Salem College has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than WCU (84.8%)
Salem College vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Salem College or WCU? 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 WCU and Salem College.
- The graduation rate at Salem College is higher than Western Carolina University (53% vs. 50%)
- Graduates from Western Carolina University earn on average $4,100 more per year than Salem College graduates after ten years. ($39,100 vs. $35,000)
- Western Carolina University students graduate with a $4,990 lower median federal student loan debt than Salem College graduates. ($22,010 vs. $27,000)
- WCU graduates are paying $52 less per month on federal student loans than Salem College graduates. ($227 vs. $279)
- More WCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem College students, three years after graduation. (58% vs. 53%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/