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Salem VA downtownPhoto: Mojo Hand · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Salem

Salem is home to two colleges, with 2,029 students on campus

Roanoke College (1,835 students on campus) and American National University (194) are inside the city. About 10% of Salem’s residents are enrolled in college, above Virginia (7%).

Roanoke College

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Salem. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
5
7,807 students on campus
Nearest college
0.7 mi
Roanoke College
Residents in college
10%
Above VA (7%)
Nearest community college
5.3 mi
Virginia Western · $5,400 tuition
Nearest public university
20.6 mi
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State · $15,948 in-state
Median household income
$67K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Salem

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A college in SalemRoanoke College has 1,835 students on campus in Salem, 67% of whom graduate within six years.A community college 5.3 miles awayVirginia Western Community College in Roanoke: tuition and fees $5,400 a year for Virginia residents.In-state price at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and StateLiving in Virginia, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University charges $15,948 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $37,764. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 10% of residentsAbove Virginia (7%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Salem

Four private colleges within 7.8 miles, and Virginia Western Community College 5.3 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, is 20.6 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miVirginia WesternRoanoke CollegeHollins UniversitySalem
University or collegeCommunity college
Roanoke CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 1,835 on campus · In Salem83%admitted$25knet price67%graduate$58kearningsAmerican National UniversityUniversity or college · For-profit · 194 on campus · In Salem · mostly online$18knet price33%graduate$26kearnings76% of its students study only online; price, graduation and earnings count them too.Galen Health Institutes-RoanokeUniversity or college · For-profit · 173 on campus · 2.7 mi · Roanoke$27knet price$61kearningsEarnings are reported for all 20 campuses that file with it.Virginia Western Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 4,883 on campus · 5.3 mi · Roanoke$5knet price40%graduate$39kearningsTuition and fees: $5,400 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Hollins UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 722 on campus · 7.8 mi · Roanoke68%admitted$21knet price65%graduate$40kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $48–75k, where Salem’s median household income ($66,725) falls.

Virginia Western Community College5.3 mi · Roanoke · sticker $11,768 · tuition $5,400$5,332a year
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University20.6 mi · Blacksburg · sticker $36,951$17,894a year
Roanoke CollegeIn Salem · sticker $54,283$18,638a year
Hollins University7.8 mi · Roanoke · sticker $58,698$20,395a year
American National UniversityIn Salem · mostly online · sticker $25,159$20,692a year
Galen Health Institutes-Roanoke2.7 mi · Roanoke · sticker $33,329$30,664a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k$100k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Roanoke CollegeAmerican National UniversityVirginia WesternHollins UniversityVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University86% graduate$82k earnings$22k typical debt
Virginia Western Community College40% graduate$39k earnings$11k typical debt
Roanoke College67% graduate$58k earnings$27k typical debt
Hollins University65% graduate$40k earnings$27k typical debt
American National University33% graduate$26k earnings$13k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in Salem

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Roanoke College, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Business 20%Parks & recreation 14%Psychology 11%Education 8%Social sciences 7%Public safety 6%Everything else 33%

Biggest programs

Business Administration, Management and Operations72 graduates a year
$69k4 yrs out
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness49 graduates a year
$65k4 yrs out
Biology, General39 graduates a year
$55k4 yrs out
Psychology, General39 graduates a year
$49k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections17 graduates a year
$58k4 yrs out
Communication and Media Studies16 graduates a year
$76k4 yrs out
History16 graduates a year
$41k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating. Left out: American National University, where most students study only online.

Questions about college in Salem

Is Salem a college town?

No. About 10 of every 100 Salem residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), above Virginia (7). The largest campus in the city, Roanoke College, has 1,835 students on campus.

What colleges are in Salem?

Roanoke College and American National University are inside the city. Virginia Western Community College is 5.3 miles away in Roanoke.

What is the closest community college to Salem, and what does it cost?

Virginia Western Community College in Roanoke, 5.3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $5,400 a year for Virginia residents; the federal net price, $4,966, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University cost if we live in Virginia?

Tuition and fees are $15,948 a year in-state and $37,764 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $11,689 (under $30,000 income) to $34,201 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Salem. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →