Private For-Profit Graduate Good 57/100

Salem University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Salem, West Virginia

About Salem University

Salem University is a private for-profit institution offering graduate degrees based in Salem, West Virginia. It enrolls 892 students (a small, tight-knit student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Acceptance
Graduation
20.4%
Net Price
$12,303
Median Earnings (10yr)
$34,642
Enrollment
892
Student : Faculty
16:1

Accreditor Higher Learning Commission
Academic Calendar Other Academic Year

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Open / Online). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Good
57/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Open / Online
Outcomes 22
Value 43
Affordability 71
Selectivity

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

Admissions data is not yet reported for Salem University.

Acceptance Rate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
Not reported

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Salem University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $12,303 per year. That's below the typical net price for private for-profit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price
$12,303
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
75%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
72%
Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees
$11,900
Room & Board (on-campus)
$8,400
Room & Board (off-campus)
$8,400
Books & Supplies
$960
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,000
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,000
Total Cost of Attendance
$18,650

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

  • Under $30,000
    $9,886
  • $30,001 – $48,000
    $10,753
  • $48,001 – $75,000
    $11,154
  • $75,001 – $110,000
    $14,107
  • Over $110,000
    $14,716

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$1,750
10% percentile
$4,750
25% percentile
$24,694
Median percentile
$16,226
75% percentile
$33,700
90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $7,296 ↓ $17,398
No Pell $10,686 ↓ $14,008
Dependent students $10,156 ↓ $14,538
Independent students $6,267 ↓ $18,427
Female students $9,500 ↓ $15,194
Male students $5,500 ↓ $19,194
Pell recipients: 14.8% (3,647 students)No Pell: 21.6% (5,341 students)Dependent students: 20.6% (5,076 students)Independent students: 12.7% (3,132 students)Female students: 19.2% (4,748 students)Male students: 11.1% (2,749 students)Overall Median$24,694
Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $5,293, less than completers ($24,694), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

20% of full-time students who enrolled at Salem University graduate within six years, and 53% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate
20%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
53%
Returning for their second year
What this means: Lower than typical completion. Worth asking the school how they support students who fall behind.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Salem University earn a median of $34,642 ten years after first enrolling. That's below the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$34,642
Earning > $25K
55%
10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

$31,000$32,000$34,000$35,000$37,0006 yrs8 yrs10 yrs

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates
$32,400

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates
$36,300

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt 41.2 pts across 6 years
34.3%1yr50%3yr61.5%5yr75.5%7yr
What this signals: Strong. 76% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Salem University is home to 892 students, a small, close-knit community. Some distinctive traits: 54% are first-generation college students.

Total Enrolled
892
Part-Time
8%
First-Generation
54%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents
White 60.3% 538
Black 12.3% 110
International 10.3% 92
Hispanic 4.3% 38
Other 0.7% 6
Asian 0.6% 5
White: 60.3% (538 students)Black: 12.3% (110 students)International: 10.3% (92 students)Hispanic: 4.3% (38 students)Other: 0.7% (6 students)Asian: 0.6% (5 students)Total892

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Salem University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting
Rural: Distant Salem, West Virginia
Housing
Mostly residential 367 beds on campus
Adult Learners
49% of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAA athletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Other Academic Year scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Salem University offers a varied set of programs: 19 distinct programs across 7 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

3 Programs
3 Programs
3 Programs
2 Programs
1 Program

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Salem University is 16:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty
16:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Avg Faculty Salary
$30,753
9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

27 instructional faculty across 3 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank Faculty Count Share Avg Salary
Full Professors 10 37% $48,426
Associate Professors 13 48% $24,059
Assistant Professors 4 15% $8,324

Pros & Cons of Salem University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Salem University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS
  • Below-average net price
  • Reasonable class sizes
  • Tight-knit, close community feel
  • Wide reach of need-based federal aid
  • First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
  • Fewer clubs, activities, and social options
  • Low completion rate, many students don't graduate within six years
  • First-year retention is below typical
  • Below-average post-graduation earnings
  • Most students take on federal loans
Best for: Based on the data, Salem University is a fit for students who thrive in small, close-knit environments.

Frequently Asked Questions about Salem University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Salem University.

How much does Salem University cost?
The average net price after aid at Salem University is $12,303 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Salem University worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $34,642 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $12,303 per year. That's roughly 2.8x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Salem University known for?
Salem University is best known for its programs in Business Administration, Business Administration, Business Administration. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Salem University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Salem University are $34,642, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Salem University accredited?
Yes. Salem University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
How many students attend Salem University?
Salem University enrolls 892 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Salem University?
Salem University graduates 20% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Salem University a public or private college?
Salem University is a Private For-Profit institution.
Where is Salem University located?
Salem University is located in Salem, West Virginia.
What programs does Salem University offer?
Salem University offers 19 distinct programs. The most popular include Business Administration, Business Administration, Business Administration.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Salem University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Salem University is 16:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

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