Salem College
Salem College — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
Salem College at a Glance
Salem College is a private women's liberal arts college in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Founded in 1772 as a primary school, it later became an academy and ultimately added the college. It is the oldest female educational establishment that is still a women's college and the oldest women's college in the United States.
1772
254 years old
364
34
Identity
Is Salem College Worth It?
At a value score of 35/100, Salem College is a below-average value relative to its cost. Graduates earn $44,640 — 17% below average — while paying $18,277/year. Consider alternatives with better earnings-to-cost ratios.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.6 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
A 57% graduation rate is a serious red flag — fewer than 6 in 10 students finish. Those who don't graduate may still carry student debt without the higher-earning credential to show for it.
With median debt of $26,649 representing 60% of first-year earnings, loan repayment will be a significant burden for most graduates.
Bottom line: consider whether the specific program you're interested in at Salem College has outcomes that justify the cost — the institution-wide numbers suggest caution.
How Salem College compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #17 of 58 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Kehilath Yakov Rabbinical Seminary | 100 | $3,822 | $36,442 |
| #2 | College of Biblical Studies-Houston | 100 | $672 | $39,260 |
| #3 | Appalachian Bible College | 59 | $11,579 | $37,467 |
| #4 | Yeshiva Gedolah Imrei Yosef D'spinka | 52 | $5,646 | $36,545 |
| #5 | Pillar College | 49 | $8,470 | $45,577 |
| #6 | Oakland City University | 48 | $15,210 | $43,283 |
| #17 | Salem College | 35 | $18,277 | $44,640 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of Salem College's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%). 1 in NC.
Best Programs at Salem College
Program-level earnings data isn't available for Salem College. When evaluating whether to attend, research outcomes for your specific major using the Department of Education's College Scorecard or ask the admissions office for placement rates.
As a general rule: STEM, nursing, accounting, and computer science programs tend to deliver the strongest ROI regardless of institution. Humanities and arts programs can still be worthwhile, but require more intentional career planning to achieve financial payoff.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $18,277/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Similar Colleges in NC
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- Winston-Salem, NC
- Student Body
- 423 students
- Admission Rate
- 77%
- Graduation Rate
- 57%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $18,277
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $44,640
- Median Student Debt
- $26,649