About Salem College
The preparation of women leaders has been the central mission of Salem College, a liberal arts college for women, since the 18th century. Salem is continuing to create an exceptional, relevant educational experience for the young women of today. Within the unique setting of a learning community for women, teachers who are solely dedicated to the education of women are preparing their students well for another new world. Over 230 years of belief in the education of women inspires those who live and work on the Salem campus today.
Salem College can trace its roots as far back as 1766 when the Moravians, an early Protestant denomination from central Europe, established the village of Salem. Believing that women deserved an education comparable to that given men -- an exceptional view in the 18th century -- the Moravians began a school for girls in 1772. A boarding school for girls and young women followed (1802), then Salem Female Academy (1866), and finally, Salem College (1890).
Salem has always championed independence for women in thought and action. In the 1700's, the Single Sisters, the unmarried women of the Moravian community, were economically self-sufficient, a rare circumstance for women of the time. The Moravians, however, were more concerned with the freedom and responsibility an education imposes. The education emphasizes reason, creativity, and resourcefulness. The 13th-oldest college in the nation -- and the oldest dedicated to the education of women -- Salem stands as one of our nation's most distinguished private liberal arts colleges.