Salem College Acceptance Rate
Winston-Salem, North Carolina · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 1,951
- Admitted
- 1,698
- Yield
- 9.2%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Salem College's acceptance rate has risen from 59.8% in 2014–15 to 87% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 929 to 1,951 (+110%) over that period.
Its 87% rate makes Salem College more selective than about 27% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 53 tracked North Carolina schools, it is more selective than about 23%.
Salem College has been test-optional since 2019–20. Of admitted students, 9.2% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 929 | 556 | 59.8% | 203 |
| 2015–16 | 903 | 562 | 62.2% | 187 |
| 2016–17 | 1,045 | 594 | 56.8% | 204 |
| 2017–18 | 1,045 | 594 | 56.8% | 163 |
| 2018–19 | 755 | 298 | 39.5% | 103 |
| 2019–20 | 833 | 666 | 80% | 109 |
| 2020–21 | 872 | 738 | 84.6% | 121 |
| 2021–22 | 479 | 432 | 90.2% | 48 |
| 2022–23 | 1,159 | 1,014 | 87.5% | 91 |
| 2023–24 | 1,951 | 1,698 | 87% | 156 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 1,951 | 1,698 | 87% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 588–685 | 5% |
| SAT Math | 490–630 | |
| ACT Composite | 18–27 | 7% |
How Salem College compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Salem College's acceptance rate?
Salem College's acceptance rate is 87% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (1,698 admitted of 1,951 applicants).
Is Salem College test optional?
Salem College is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Salem College?
Salem College received 1,951 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 1,698.
What SAT score do you need for Salem College?
Admitted students at Salem College typically scored 588–685 on SAT Reading/Writing and 490–630 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Salem College getting harder to get into?
Salem College has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 59.8% in 2014–15 to 87% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.salem.edu/.