Salem State University
Public four-year university in Salem, MA that costs an average of $12,921 a year after financial aid, admits 96% of applicants and graduates 49% of full-time students.
Net price / year
$12,921
Acceptance rate
96%
Graduation rate
49%
Earnings after 10 yrs
$62,762
PublicLarge suburb4,291 undergraduates
Cost of Salem State University
| Total cost of attendance (per year) | $26,037 |
|---|---|
| Tuition and fees, in-state | $12,708 |
| Tuition and fees, out-of-state | $20,117 |
| Housing and food (on campus) | $17,678 |
| Books and supplies | $1,200 |
| Average net price after aid | $12,921 |
Net price by family income
| Family income | Average net price / year |
|---|---|
| $0–30,000 | $8,474 |
| $30,001–48,000 | $10,094 |
| $48,001–75,000 | $10,214 |
| $75,001–110,000 | $12,912 |
| $110,001+ | $22,319 |
Net price is what students actually pay after grants and scholarships (in-state students). Get your own estimate with Salem State University's net price calculator ↗.
Admissions
| Acceptance rate | 96% |
|---|---|
| Test scores | Neither required nor recommended |
Graduation, earnings and debt
| Graduation rate | 49% |
|---|---|
| First-year retention | 75% |
| Median earnings 6 years after enrolling | $54,506 |
| Median earnings 10 years after enrolling | $62,762 |
| Rank in Massachusetts (earnings) | 48th of 65 similar colleges |
| Median debt of graduates | $22,250 |
| Typical monthly loan payment | $253 (10-year plan) |
| Students with Pell grants | 41% |
| Students with federal loans | 45% |
Majors and programs at Salem State University
Earnings one year after graduation and median debt, by program. Click a program for details and comparisons.
Bachelor's degree programs (58)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | 337 | $79,151 | $25,000 |
| Computer and Information Sciences | 54 | $62,701 | $26,104 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 93 | $54,314 | $22,994 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 157 | $52,353 | $25,480 |
| Geography and Cartography | 30 | $49,990 | — |
| Biology | 122 | $49,073 | $23,000 |
| Education | 63 | $46,530 | $21,500 |
| Psychology | 235 | $45,471 | $23,250 |
| Social Work | 73 | $45,002 | $25,605 |
| Political Science and Government | 27 | $43,810 | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | 75 | $42,830 | $24,000 |
| Communication and Media Studies | 27 | $40,532 | $27,000 |
| Sociology | 19 | $40,365 | — |
| Fine and Studio Arts | 14 | $39,030 | $17,250 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 40 | $36,447 | $20,334 |
| Visual and Performing Arts | — | $34,366 | $25,000 |
| English Language and Literature | 63 | $29,925 | $25,000 |
| Accounting and Related Services | 61 | — | — |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions | 11 | — | — |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | 8 | — | — |
| Biotechnology | — | — | — |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences | — | — | — |
| Chemistry | 10 | — | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | 20 | — | — |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions | — | — | — |
| Dance | 7 | — | — |
| Design and Applied Arts | 19 | — | — |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | 52 | — | — |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | 5 | — | — |
| Economics | 10 | — | — |
| Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations | 24 | — | — |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | 2 | — | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 46 | — | — |
| Fire Protection | 24 | — | — |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences | 14 | — | — |
| History | 50 | — | $19,500 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | 21 | — | — |
| Human Resources Management and Services | 20 | — | — |
| International Business | 13 | — | — |
| Journalism | 11 | — | — |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | 18 | — | — |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | — | — | — |
| Management Information Systems and Services | 15 | — | — |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | 16 | — | — |
| Marketing | 86 | — | — |
| Mathematics | 16 | — | — |
| Music | 7 | — | — |
| Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies | 13 | — | — |
| Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution | 1 | — | — |
| Philosophy | 5 | — | — |
| Philosophy and Religious Studies | — | — | — |
| Public Relations, Advertising, and Applied Communication | 24 | — | — |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | 57 | — | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | 20 | — | — |
| Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics | 17 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | 137 | — | $20,603 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 3 | — | — |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language | — | — | — |
Master's degree programs (20)
Professional degree programs (1)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Educational Administration and Supervision | — | — | — |
Graduate certificate programs (20)
| Program | Graduates (2 yrs) | Earnings after 1 yr | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting and Related Services | 1 | — | — |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 8 | — | — |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology | — | — | — |
| Education | 136 | — | — |
| Educational Administration and Supervision | 6 | — | — |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | — | — | — |
| Geography and Cartography | 1 | — | — |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | — | — | — |
| Health Professions Education, Ethics, and Humanities | — | — | — |
| History | 2 | — | — |
| Holocaust and Related Studies | 2 | — | — |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | — | — | — |
| Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other | — | — | — |
| Public Policy Analysis | — | — | — |
| Rhetoric and Composition/Writing Studies | — | — | — |
| Special Education and Teaching | 1 | — | — |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | — | — | — |
| Student Counseling and Personnel Services | 4 | — | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | 12 | — | — |
| Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language | 4 | — | — |
Similar colleges in Massachusetts
| College | City | Net price / yr | Acceptance | Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Worcester State University | Worcester | $13,866 | 88% | $65,784 |
| Westfield State University | Westfield | $16,484 | 81% | $63,082 |
| University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth | North Dartmouth | $20,319 | 91% | $68,878 |
| Fitchburg State University | Fitchburg | $13,803 | 87% | $63,428 |
| Framingham State University | Framingham | $15,951 | 84% | $63,249 |
| Bridgewater State University | Bridgewater | $18,061 | 88% | $61,441 |
| Massachusetts College of Art and Design | Boston | $26,397 | 76% | $52,923 |
| University of Massachusetts-Lowell | Lowell | $17,362 | 83% | $77,989 |
About Salem State University
| Type | Public four-year university |
|---|---|
| Location | Salem, MA |
| Setting | Large suburb |
| Undergraduates | 4,291 |
| Student-to-faculty ratio | 12 to 1 |
| Accreditor | New England Commission on Higher Education |
| Website | salemstate.edu ↗ |
Frequently asked questions
What is Salem State University's acceptance rate?
Salem State University admits 96% of applicants.
How much does Salem State University cost per year?
The full cost of attendance is $26,037 a year (tuition and fees: $12,708 in-state, $20,117 out-of-state). After grants and scholarships the average student pays $12,921 a year, and students from families earning under $30,000 pay about $8,474.
How much do Salem State University graduates earn?
Former students earn a median of $62,762 a year, 10 years after first enrolling — 48th of 65 similar colleges in Massachusetts. The best-paid bachelor's program is registered nursing, nursing administration, nursing research and clinical nursing ($79,151 a year after graduation).
What is Salem State University's graduation rate?
49% of full-time students graduate within six years, and 75% of first-year students return for a second year.