Salem College vs. USC Aiken

Should I go to Salem College or University of South Carolina Aiken? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Salem College or USC Aiken 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. University of South Carolina Aiken comparison
Salem College University of South Carolina Aiken College 3 College 4
Salem College
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Overview

Salem College USC Aiken
Location Winston Salem, NC Aiken, SC
Setting Midsize City Rural Fringe
Enrollment 469 3,840
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #888
Religious Affiliation Moravian Church - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website salem.edu usca.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Salem College USC Aiken
Tuition (In State) $30,500 $10,398
Tuition (Out of State) $30,500 $20,856
Room & Board $12,300 $8,376
Avg Net Price $18,354 $11,872
Avg Grant Aid $30,048 $9,891
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 100%

Admission

Salem College USC Aiken
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,159 2,453
Admitted 1,014 1,855
Acceptance Rate 87.5% 75.6%
Enrolled % 9% 29.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 3.19
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Very Easy Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 17/21 18/24
SAT Range 1053/1200 950/1180
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 Aug 1, 2024

Academics

Salem College USC Aiken
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%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)

Outcomes

Salem College USC Aiken
Graduation Rate 53% 41%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $35,000 $39,600
Making Student Loan Payments 53% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $268

Diversity

Salem College USC Aiken
% Men 3% 36%
% Women 97% 64%
Racial Diversity High High
HBCU No No
% White 55% 58%
% Black 22% 27%
% Hispanic 12% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 1% 4%
% Unknown Race 4% 2%

Students

Salem College USC Aiken
% In-State 78% 87%
% Out-of-State 22% 11%

Campus

Salem College USC Aiken
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • University of South Carolina Aiken is larger than than Salem College based on total student enrollment (3,840 students vs. 469 students)

Salem College vs. USC Aiken Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Salem College or USC Aiken?

  • Salem College is 193.3% more expensive to attend than USC Aiken for in-state tuition ($30,500.00 vs. $10,398.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 46.2% higher at Salem College than University of South Carolina Aiken ($30,500.00 vs. $20,856.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Carolina Aiken than Salem College ($11,872 vs. $18,354)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Aiken are 46.8% lower than costs at Salem College ($8,376 vs. $12,300)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Salem College as University of South Carolina Aiken (100% vs. 100%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Salem College students is 203.8% larger than aid received University of South Carolina Aiken ($30,048 vs. $9,891)

Salem College vs. USC Aiken Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • The average SAT score at Salem College (1119) is 143 points higher than at USC Aiken (976)
  • Incoming Salem College students have a 4 point higher average ACT score (25) than students at USC Aiken (21)
  • Accepted freshman Salem College students have a 0.11 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at USC Aiken (3.19)
  • Salem College has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than USC Aiken (75.6%)

Salem College vs. USC Aiken Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Salem College or USC Aiken? 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 USC Aiken and Salem College.

  • The graduation rate at Salem College is higher than University of South Carolina Aiken (53% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from University of South Carolina Aiken earn on average $4,600 more per year than Salem College graduates after ten years. ($39,600 vs. $35,000)
  • University of South Carolina Aiken students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Salem College graduates. ($26,000 vs. $27,000)
  • USC Aiken graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than Salem College graduates. ($268 vs. $279)
  • More USC Aiken graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem College students, three years after graduation. (54% vs. 53%)

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