- Acceptance rate: 77% for fall 2024
- SAT, middle 50%: 553–643 reading and writing, 513–600 math
- ACT, middle 50%: 16–22 composite
- Average net price: $19,000 a year (2022–23)
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How does your GPA compare?
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Where you standEnter your GPA
Add a test score to compare it with what Salem College reported: an acceptance rate of 77% for fall 2024 and an ACT middle 50% of 16–22.
Weighted GPAs above 4.0 can't be compared directly. Many colleges recalculate on their own scale, so use your unweighted GPA here.
A guide based on reported data, not a prediction. Salem College reviews each application.
Salem College GPA requirements
Salem College requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Federal data doesn't include GPA averages, and Salem College hasn't published one we could verify, so this page doesn't list an average GPA.
Salem College acceptance rate
Salem College admitted 1,722 of 2,246 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 77%, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Salem College is a private nonprofit 4-year college in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, with 464 undergraduates.
SAT and ACT scores
Scores of the first-year students who entered Salem College in fall 2024 and submitted them. Half of them scored between the 25th and 75th percentiles:
| Test | 25th percentile | Median | 75th percentile |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading and Writing | 553 | 610 | 643 |
| SAT Math | 513 | 550 | 600 |
| ACT Composite | 16 | 19 | 22 |
| ACT English | 14 | 16 | 24 |
| ACT Math | 15 | 16 | 22 |
The U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard estimates an average SAT score of 1082 for admitted students.
Admission requirements
What Salem College looks at when it decides on first-year applicants, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024:
| Admission factor | Status |
|---|---|
| High School GPAYour cumulative high school grade point average. | Required |
| High School RecordYour transcript: the courses you took and the grades you earned. | Required |
| High School Class RankYour ranking relative to other students in your graduating class. | Considered if submitted |
| College Preparatory ProgramCompletion of a college preparatory curriculum in high school. | Considered if submitted |
| RecommendationsLetters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other mentors. | Considered if submitted |
| Essay or Personal StatementA personal statement or essay written for your application. | Considered if submitted |
| Test ScoresSAT or ACT scores. | Considered if submitted |
| Demonstration of CompetenciesEvidence of specific skills through portfolios, auditions, or other demonstrations. | Considered if submitted |
| Work ExperiencePaid or volunteer work. | Considered if submitted |
| Legacy StatusWhether a parent or other relative attended the college. | Considered if submitted |
| Other TestsOther admission tests, such as the Wonderlic or WISC-III. | Not considered |
AP credit
Salem College awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
It also awards credit for life experience, such as work or military service.
Average net price
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average net price of $19,000 a year at Salem College in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Net price is the full cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Is Salem College hard to get into?
Not for most prepared students: at least 3 in 4 applicants got in. Salem College admitted 77% of first-year applicants for fall 2024.
What SAT and ACT scores do Salem College students have?
The middle 50% of Salem College's fall 2024 first-year students who sent scores had SAT 553–643 in reading and writing and 513–600 in math; ACT composite 16–22, according to what the college reported to the U.S. Department of Education. A quarter scored below that range.
Is Salem College test optional?
Check Salem College's admissions website for the current rule: testing policies change from year to year. Salem College was test optional: it considered SAT or ACT scores if you sent them, as it reported to the U.S. Department of Education (fall 2024). Of its fall 2024 first-year students, 6% sent SAT scores and 7% sent ACT scores.
What GPA do you need to get into Salem College?
Salem College requires a high school GPA from first-year applicants, according to its filing with the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024. It hasn't published an average GPA we could verify, so we don't list one.
How many applicants get into Salem College?
Salem College's acceptance rate was 77% for fall 2024: it admitted 1,722 of 2,246 first-year applicants, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
How important is GPA for getting into Salem College?
A lot: Salem College requires high school GPA and high school record. It considers high school class rank, college preparatory program, recommendations, essay or personal statement, test scores, demonstration of competencies, work experience and legacy status if you send them. It doesn't consider other tests. That's what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
Can a 3.0 GPA get you into Salem College?
GPA alone can't tell you here. Salem College admitted 77% of first-year applicants for fall 2024. It requires a high school GPA but hasn't published an average we could verify, so there's no admitted-student GPA to compare a 3.0 against. Your transcript and test scores are the clearer guide.
Does Salem College consider legacy status?
Yes. Salem College considers whether a parent or other relative attended, though it isn't required, it said in its report to the U.S. Department of Education for fall 2024.
What do students pay at Salem College after grants?
First-time, full-time undergraduates who received grant or scholarship aid paid an average of $19,000 a year at Salem College in 2022–23, according to the U.S. Department of Education. Net price is the cost of attendance minus grants and scholarships.
Does Salem College accept AP credit?
Yes. Salem College awards college credit for Advanced Placement (AP) exams, according to what it reported to the U.S. Department of Education for 2024–25. The college decides which exams and scores earn credit.
Before you apply, check Salem College's official admissions site: requirements can differ by program and change from year to year.
Sources
- College Navigator: Salem CollegeU.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, IPEDS (2024–25 provisional data): admissions, test scores and admission factors for fall 2024, undergraduate enrollment for fall 2024, net price for 2022–23 and credit policies for 2024–25.
- College Scorecard dataAverage SAT: an estimate by the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 10, 2026 release).
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