Salem College vs. WSSU

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

 Salem College WSSU
Location Winston Salem, NC Winston-Salem, NC
Setting Midsize City Midsize City
Enrollment 469 5,004
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #956
Religious Affiliation Moravian Church - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website salem.edu wssu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Salem College WSSU
Tuition (In State) $30,500 $3,401
Tuition (Out of State) $30,500 $14,057
Room & Board $12,300 $11,220
Avg Net Price $18,354 $14,097
Avg Grant Aid $30,048 $8,350
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 86%

Admission

 Salem College WSSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,159 7,628
Admitted 1,014 5,598
Acceptance Rate 87.5% 73.4%
Enrolled % 9% 15.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 3.01
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Very Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 17/21 14/19
SAT Range 1053/1200 830/1050
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 Feb 15, 2025

Academics

 Salem College WSSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (20%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Biology (11%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Health Professions (50%)
  • Business (9%)
  • Education (6%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)
  • Psychology (5%)

Outcomes

 Salem College WSSU
Graduation Rate 53% 41%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $35,000 $35,700
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 33%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $25,663
Median Loan Payment $279 $265

Diversity

 Salem College WSSU
% Men 3% 24%
% Women 97% 76%
Racial Diversity High Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 55% 16%
% Black 22% 72%
% Hispanic 12% 3%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 1% 2%
% Unknown Race 4% 2%

Students

 Salem College WSSU
% In-State 78% 82%
% Out-of-State 22% 16%

Campus

 Salem College WSSU
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

  • Winston Salem State University is larger than than Salem College based on total student enrollment (5,004 students vs. 469 students)

Salem College vs. WSSU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Salem College or WSSU?

  • Salem College is 796.8% more expensive to attend than WSSU for in-state tuition ($30,500.00 vs. $3,401.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 117% higher at Salem College than Winston Salem State University ($30,500.00 vs. $14,057.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Winston Salem State University than Salem College ($14,097 vs. $18,354)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Winston Salem State University are 9.6% lower than costs at Salem College ($11,220 vs. $12,300)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Salem College than Winston Salem State University (100% vs. 86%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Salem College students is 259.9% larger than aid received Winston Salem State University ($30,048 vs. $8,350)

Salem College vs. WSSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Salem College (1119) is 249 points higher than at WSSU (870)
  • Incoming Salem College students have a 7 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at WSSU (18)
  • Accepted freshman Salem College students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at WSSU (3.01)
  • Salem College has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than WSSU (73.4%)

Salem College vs. WSSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Salem College is higher than Winston Salem State University (53% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from Winston Salem State University earn on average $700 more per year than Salem College graduates after ten years. ($35,700 vs. $35,000)
  • Winston Salem State University students graduate with a $1,337 lower median federal student loan debt than Salem College graduates. ($25,663 vs. $27,000)
  • WSSU graduates are paying $14 less per month on federal student loans than Salem College graduates. ($265 vs. $279)
  • More Salem College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former WSSU students, three years after graduation. (53% vs. 33%)

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