Salem College Sees Record Number of Applications for Fall 2024
WINSTON-SALEM, NC (FEB. 5, 2024)-Salem College announced today that for fall 2024 it has received the largest number of applications in its history, its third consecutive record-breaking year. More than 1,900 students have applied to be part of the college’s Class of 2028, an increase of more than 100% over January 2022, and almost 600% more than January 2021.
“Salem College has experienced one of the most remarkable enrollment turnaround stories in the nation over the last three years,” Salem Academy and College President Summer McGee said.
“I could not be more proud of what our admissions staff, faculty, and campus community have accomplished,” McGee added.
One reason for the increase may be recent public recognition of Salem College in national rankings. In October, Washington Monthly College Rankings 2023 rated the college No. 8 in the nation for graduates’ predicted earnings, and in July, US News Best Colleges 2024 ranked Salem No. 2 in the nation for upward social mobility marking the third year as either No. 1 or No. 2 in the nation. Another may be Salem’s unique focus on educating women to be health leaders, intended to give Salem’s graduates the opportunity to find leadership roles in the fastest-growing industry in the world.
“Prospective students and families tell us that Salem’s distinctive approach to a liberal arts education focused on health leadership sets us apart,” McGee said.
Our focus on educating the whole person, on health and wellness, and on leadership is something no other women’s college offers like Salem,” she added.
One thing that will not change at Salem with increased applications is Salem’s commitment to valuing students as individuals and its hands-on approach to student engagement. Salem has traditionally enrolled first-year classes of under 200 students, more than 80% of whom live on its residential campus. With a faculty-to-student ratio at 8-to-1, an average class size of eight, and an average incoming GPA of 3.83, Salem continues to be a close-knit, rigorous, engaged academic community.
Salem is also able to make higher education affordable for students of widely varying economic backgrounds. Salem offers more than 20 full-tuition scholarships for students with exceptional academic and leadership potential, including its unique Salem Scholars program for students focused on becoming health leaders. More than 97% of incoming students receive financial aid, and Salem’s program for Pell-eligible North Carolina residents – Salem Promise – provides full tuition coverage for students for four years. Students interested in attending Salem College are invited to tour its historic campus in person on Mondays through Saturdays and through its virtual tour at salem.edu/tour.
About Salem College
Salem College provides women a liberal arts education with a distinctive focus on health and leadership ensuring our graduates understand the power, importance, and complexity of health in our society. Salem College prepares students for a range of career paths to lead in making the world a better, healthier, more equitable place. Salem College is the only national liberal arts college exclusively focused on developing the health leaders of tomorrow.
News media contact
Meagan Coughlin, APR
(336) 721.2665
meagan.coughlin@salem.edu