Salem College vs. Sweet Briar College

Comparable Facts

Compare Salem College in Winston-Salem, NC with Sweet Briar College in Sweet Briar, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Salem College is larger than Sweet Briar College based on total student enrollment (549 students vs. 444 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Salem College is located in Winston-Salem, NC (Midsize City setting); Sweet Briar College is in Sweet Briar, VA (Small Suburban setting).
• Salem College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Sweet Briar College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Salem College 9:1; Sweet Briar College 9:1.

Salem College vs. Sweet Briar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Salem College or Sweet Briar College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Salem College than Sweet Briar College ($18,668 vs. $21,322).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Salem College are 10% lower than at Sweet Briar College ($13,710 vs. $15,230).
• Salem College is 29.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Sweet Briar College (about $7,688 more per year; $33,848.00 vs. $26,160.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 29.4% higher at Salem College than at Sweet Briar College (about $7,688 more per year; $33,848.00 vs. $26,160.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Salem College than at Sweet Briar College (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Salem College students is 34% larger than aid received by Sweet Briar College students ($30,001 vs. $22,387).

Salem College vs. Sweet Briar College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Salem College or Sweet Briar College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Sweet Briar College and Salem College.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Sweet Briar College (1210) is 60 points higher than at Salem College (1150).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Salem College 1066/1243; Sweet Briar College 1100/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Salem College 16/22.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Salem College - Test optional; Sweet Briar College - Test optional.
• Accepted freshman Sweet Briar College students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.54) than students at Salem College (3.3).
• Salem College has a higher acceptance rate (76.7%) than Sweet Briar College (75.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 7.9% at Salem College vs. 13.2% at Sweet Briar College.

Salem College vs. Sweet Briar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Salem College and Sweet Briar College? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Sweet Briar College's six-year graduation rate (70%) is higher than Salem College's (53%).
• Graduates from Sweet Briar College earn a median of about $6,700 more per year than Salem College graduates about ten years after starting college ($41,700 vs. $35,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sweet Briar College and Salem College graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Sweet Briar College and Salem College graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More Sweet Briar College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem College students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 53%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.