Salem University, located in Salem (Harrison County), was founded in 1888 with support from the Seventh Day Baptist Church. It started as Salem Academy and then became Salem College in 1890, offering both high school and college classes.

The school grew over time, especially under long-time presidents S. Orestes Bond and K. Duane Hurley, and was fully accredited in 1963. Salem built a new campus in the 1960s–70s, with classrooms, dorms, a library, and even a pioneer village called Fort New Salem.

In 1989, the college partnered with Teikyo University in Japan and became Salem-Teikyo University, attracting international students and offering global programs. The partnership ended in 2000, and the name was changed to Salem International University and then to Salem University in 2017.

Today, the university has around 1,000 students. Notable alumni include U.S. Senators Jennings Randolph, Rush Holt, and Joseph Rosier in addition to Governor Cecil Underwood.