Salem State University is a public institution offering graduate degrees based in Salem, Massachusetts. It enrolls 4,291 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNew England Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
65/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes37
Value76
Affordability63
Selectivity8
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 95.9%, Salem State University is broadly accessible to qualified applicants.
Acceptance Rate
95.9%
Open
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Salem State University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Becoming less selective ↑
10.0 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Salem State University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $15,996 per year. That's below the typical net price for public colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$15,996
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
35%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
49%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees (in-state)
$12,338
Tuition & Fees (out-of-state)
$19,531
Room & Board (on-campus)
$16,838
Room & Board (off-campus)
$12,100
Books & Supplies
$1,200
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$1,784
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$3,660
Total Cost of Attendance
$28,291
Application fee: $50 (one-time, due at submission)
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$10,516
$30,001 – $48,000
$13,870
$48,001 – $75,000
$13,821
$75,001 – $110,000
$17,590
Over $110,000
$23,223
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$4,50010%percentile
$7,77225%percentile
$25,000Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$33,70090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $20,500
↓ $4,500
No Pell $16,992
↓ $8,008
Dependent students $18,500
↓ $6,500
Independent students $23,380
↓ $1,620
Female students $19,500
↓ $5,500
Male students $18,250
↓ $6,750
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $9,750, less than completers ($25,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
59% of full-time students who enrolled at Salem State University graduate within six years, and 74% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
59%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
74%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Salem State University earn a median of $56,662 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$56,662
Earning > $25K
74%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$44,300
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$51,800
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$42,100
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$48,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$50,100
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $7,500, about 14% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
14.4 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Strong. 82% of graduates are actively reducing their debt seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Salem State University is home to 4,291 students, a mid-sized community. Some distinctive traits: 40% are first-generation college students.
Total Enrolled
4,291
Part-Time
13%
First-Generation
40%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 52.0%2,232
Hispanic 25.0%1,072
Black 8.8%376
Other 3.9%166
International 3.7%157
Asian 3.0%130
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Salem State University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbSalem, Massachusetts
Housing
Partly residential1,675 beds available
Adult Learners
13%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
What You Can Study
Salem State University offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
78 distinct programs across
20 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Salem State University is 11:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
11:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Instruction / Student
$12,035
Annual instructional spending per enrolled student
Endowment
$110,000
Modest endowment
Avg Faculty Salary
$90,995
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
296 instructional faculty across 4 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
161
54%
$100,861
Associate Professors
76
26%
$84,735
Assistant Professors
51
17%
$70,821
Instructors
8
3%
$80,530
Pros & Cons of Salem State University
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Salem State University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Below-average net price
Accessible admissions for most applicants
Small classes (low student-faculty ratio)
Solid post-graduation earnings
First-gen-friendly student body
CONS
Modest first-year retention
Best for:
Based on the data, Salem State University is a fit for
students who want a clear path to start college without a competitive admissions barrier.
Frequently Asked Questions about Salem State University
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Salem State University.
Is Salem State University hard to get into?
Salem State University has open or near-open admissions. Most qualified applicants are accepted. Acceptance rate: 95.9%.
What is the acceptance rate at Salem State University?
Salem State University has an acceptance rate of 95.9%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Salem State University cost?
The average net price after aid at Salem State University is $15,996 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Salem State University worth it?
Solid return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $56,662 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $15,996 per year. That's roughly 3.5x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Salem State University known for?
Salem State University is best known for its programs in Nursing, Psychology, Social Work. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Salem State University graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Salem State University are $56,662, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Salem State University accredited?
Yes. Salem State University is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Salem State University?
Salem State University enrolls 4,291 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Salem State University?
Salem State University graduates 59% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Salem State University a public or private college?
Salem State University is a Public institution.
Where is Salem State University located?
Salem State University is located in Salem, Massachusetts.
What programs does Salem State University offer?
Salem State University offers 78 distinct programs. The most popular include Nursing, Psychology, Social Work.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Salem State University?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Salem State University is 11:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
Related Colleges in Massachusetts
Other colleges in Massachusetts share the same applicant pool, regional economy, and academic landscape. Comparing nearby options puts admissions, costs, and outcomes in context, useful when weighing your fit against local alternatives.
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