Salem College

Private · Moderately Selective · NC

School data & stats

TypePrivate

LocationNC · South

SettingUrban

Undergrads423

Student:faculty9:1

Outcomes

4-yr grad rate50.5%

6-yr grad rate57.4%

Drop-out rate32.5%

Study abroad—

Cost

In-state tuition$34k

Out-of-state tuition$34k

Application fee—

Community

Racial diversity51.1%

Gender diversity99.5%

International3.8%

Identity—

Overview

Salem College is a small women's college in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, founded by Moravians in 1772 and recognized as the oldest continuously operating educational institution for women in the country. Its campus sits inside Old Salem, the restored Moravian colonial village, giving it a historic setting unlike almost any other American college. It shares its grounds and long institutional history with Salem Academy, an all-girls day and boarding high school, though the two are separately administered.

Academics

The curriculum has shifted increasingly toward health leadership and the sciences, including strong pre-health tracks, while retaining a liberal-arts core. Classes are small, and the college's size allows close mentoring relationships between students and faculty, a hallmark of its identity as a small women's college.

Campus & student life

Students live and study within Old Salem's cobblestone streets and restored eighteenth-century buildings, a setting that doubles as a living-history site visited by tourists. Moravian traditions, including the candlelight lovefeast, remain part of the campus calendar. As a small women's college, student life leans toward close peer relationships and shared traditions rather than a large social scene.

Getting in

Salem evaluates applicants holistically, in the mode typical of small women's colleges, weighing leadership potential and fit alongside academic record. Its identity as a historic women's college is itself a draw for students specifically seeking that environment.

After graduation

Graduates have historically moved into health professions, education, and leadership roles in the Piedmont Triad region and beyond, supported by a long-established and engaged alumnae network tied to the college's nearly 250-year history.

Worth knowing

The shared campus with Salem Academy means prospective students should be clear that the college and the high school are distinct institutions occupying the same historic ground. The Old Salem setting itself functions almost like a second curriculum, with Moravian history and traditions embedded in daily campus life.

salem.edu ↗

Admissions

Acceptance rate76.7%

Enrolled mid-50%SAT 1066–1243 · ACT 16–22

Test policyoptional

Rec letters—

Deadlines (2026–27 cycle)

Applying