Located adjacent to the historic Moravian community of Old Salem, Salem College was establshed in 1772 as a girl's school, changing its same to Salem Female Academy in 1866 and finally taking the name of Salem College in 1890. The school is the oldest women's college in the United States, and among its alumni is Dolley Madison, wife of U.S. President James Madison
Salem College enrolls (as of 2003) appproximately 1,100 students, all of whom are required to complete both community service and internship programs prior to graduation -- part of the "Salem Signature" leadership program, for which the college has earned national praise.
Salem College shares its campus with Salem Academy, a residential high school for girls.. During the summer, Salem campus houses one campus of the Governor's School of North Carolina, a state-run summer program for gifted high school students.