Key differences on Getting in
- 1
Salem State's yield is 3 pts higher than Sonoma State's
Yield rate - 2
Sonoma State admits 93% vs. 96% at Salem State
Acceptance rate
Admissions
Getting in, fall 2024
Acceptance and yield, test score ranges, test policy, and what each college weighs.
The funnel
Quad's selectivity
- Salem StateOpen
- Sonoma StateOpen
Men and women
Acceptance rate for men and women who applied, where a college reports admissions by sex.
Test scores
SAT total,
Axis runs 800–1600. The dark tick marks the national median midpoint.
Test policy
- Salem StateTest-blind
- Sonoma StateTest-blind
How they read a record
Salem State
, GPA, class rank, and tests are all very important. 21% of first-years who sent test scores had a 3.75 or higher.
Sonoma State
GPA, the high school record, and a college-prep program are required.
What they look at
| Factor | Salem State | Sonoma State |
|---|---|---|
| High school GPA | Very important | Required |
| High school record | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Very important | Not considered |
| College-prep program | Required | Required |
| Recommendations | Very important | Not considered |
| Essay | Very important | Not considered |
| Legacy status | Very important | Not considered |
| Work experience | Very important | Considered |
| Demonstration of competencies | Considered | Not considered |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other tests | Not considered | Not considered |
Sources:IPEDS Admissions survey, Fall 2024;Salem State University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;Salem State University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2027 applicants;Salem State University Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024;College Scorecard, most recent release;College Scorecard, Entered fall 2023About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)
Figures are the newest each college has published; years can differ between colleges. Each value's ⓘ shows its source and year. Why