True College Verdict
D

Salem College

Winston-Salem, NC · 423 undergraduates · 58% receive Pell Grants · admits 77%
Private nonprofitMainly bachelor's degrees

Below average. Ask hard questions before enrolling. It ranks 973 of 1,755 four-year colleges on student outcomes, with an overall score of 45.6 out of 100.

Is it affordable?
About average
Average net price $18,975 a year after grants. Typical for similar colleges: $19,899.
Will most students finish?
About half
58% graduate within 8 years. Typical for similar colleges: 59%.
Is it worth the price?
Mixed
Graduates owe a typical $20,459 against earnings of $50,734, a ratio of 0.40. Under 0.4 is comfortable; over 0.7 is heavy.

These three answers are rules of thumb from the numbers below, not advice for any one student or major.

What do students really think?

You have seen the federal numbers for Salem College. Now hear from people who went there, or add your own experience. Anonymous, no account.

Would you choose it again? That is the first question the rating form asks.

Why it is good

Nothing stands out as clearly better than similar colleges.

Why it is bad

  • Many students leave early: only 68% of first-year students return for a second year.
  • Low pay: typical earnings ten years after starting are $50,734, lower than 72% of four-year colleges.

The numbers

What these figures measure

Graduation rate: share of all students, full-time or part-time, who finish within 8 years. Return for year 2: share of first-time, full-time students who come back for a second year. Earnings: median pay about 10 years after starting, for students who received federal aid. Debt: median federal loan debt among those who finish. Net price: average yearly cost after grants and scholarships. All from the U.S. Education Department College Scorecard, institution file dated November 2, 2026.

Graduation rate
58%
Better than 47% of similar colleges. Typical: 59%
Return for year 2
68%
Better than 25% of similar colleges. Typical: 77%
Earnings after 10 years
$50,734
Better than 28% of similar colleges. Typical: $58,912
Debt at graduation
$20,459
Better than 36% of similar colleges. Typical: $21,609
Net price per year
$18,975
Better than 54% of similar colleges. Typical: $19,899
Published tuition
$35,200
Before any aid

Programs and early earnings

Bachelor's degrees: largest programs

FieldGraduates a yearEarnings, 2 yrs afterDebt
Business Administration, Management and Operations13$32,925n/a
Design and Applied Arts11n/an/a
Psychology, General10n/an/a
Fine and Studio Arts8n/an/a

Earnings are the median pay two years after completing, for graduates who were working and not enrolled again. The federal government hides figures for small programs, shown as n/a. Fields are broad groups, so a college may offer several majors inside one.

Students and reviews

Numbers cannot tell you about teaching, dorms or campus life. Read and write anonymous student reviews for Salem College, or ask and answer questions about it. Other sources:

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The grade reflects outcomes for the average student compared with other four-year colleges. Individual majors can be much better or worse.