Salem State University

Salem, MA · NortheastQuad's selectivityOpen

Known forFaith-centered

Website Admissions Apply Visit Financial aid

Updates

What changed

New and revised figures from the latest data releases, each with its year.

Published Oct 11, 2026

Now reported: middle 50% SAT Reading & Writing 453–620 (fall 2025)Salem State University Common Data Set 2025–26
Now reported: middle 50% SAT Math 390–558 (fall 2025)Salem State University Common Data Set 2025–26
Entered fall 2024: 76% returned for a second year (entered fall 2023: 75%)Salem State University Common Data Set 2025–26

Sources:Salem State University Common Data Set 2025–26, Fall 2025;Salem State University Common Data Set 2025–26, Entered fall 2024About the data(retrieved 2026-10-12)

Admissions · Fall 2024

10 in 10 applicants admitted

Salem State admits about 10 in 10 applicants (96%). That puts it in the "Open" tier, more selective than 10% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

96%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityOpen

Applied

7,953

Admitted

7,625

Yield

11%

of admits enroll

Avg. GPA

3.22

SAT middle 50%

873–1148

8001600

Applications +53% since fall 2014 · admit rate 71% → 96%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A small campus of 4,291 undergrads, where 35% receive Pell Grants, a typical share compared to other colleges.

4.3K

undergrads · larger than 75% of colleges

Diversity index

0.65

Pell Grant

35%

about the median

First generation

40%

above the median

Large suburbNCAA D-III · Massachusetts State College Athletic AssociationROTCStudy abroad

More diverse · index 0.51 → 0.65 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (12% of graduates). 12 students for every faculty member, fewer than at 59% of colleges. 100% of faculty are full-time. Spends $10,571 a year on instruction per student.

12 to 1

students per faculty member · fewer than at 59% of colleges

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $21,984 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $2.3K less than the national median. The 98% who received grants paid $17,541 on average; the other 2% paid the full sticker price of $31,340 in-state / $38,323 out-of-state.

32%

$22K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $2.3K below the national median

Full price, in-state: $31,340 a year; tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid: Published data end at $110K; use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes

Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 32% of full price

Federal loans

49%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits

Cost falling · −11% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $56,662 ten years after enrolling, more than at 59% of colleges; 62% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 1.6 years of that salary.

62%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$56.7K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$25K

≈ $265/month for 10 years

Retention

76%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 46% → 50% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 9% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid fell 11%, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 53% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 71% to 96%.

Cost
Falling
−11% after inflation
Applications
Growing
+53%
Selectivity
Less selective
admit rate 71% → 96%
Diversity
More diverse
index 0.51 → 0.65

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

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The University of Texas Permian Basin

95% admit · SAT 1020 · 3.9K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size

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Northwestern State University of Louisiana

93% admit · SAT 1015 · 5.5K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size

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Eastern New Mexico University-Main Campus

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Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

1
IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
2
College Scorecard
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12
3
IPEDS Admissions survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
4
Salem State University Common Data Set 2025–26
Salem State University · Fall 2025; Fall 2027 applicants; Entered fall 2024; 2025–26; Fall 2026 entrants; Fall 2026 cycle; Class of 2025 · retrieved 2026-10-05
5
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
6
IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12
7
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
8
IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12
9
College Scorecard Field of Study data
U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
10
IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
11
IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12
12
Common Data Set
Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12
13
IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12
14
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
15
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
16
IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
17
IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12
18
IPEDS Outcome Measures survey
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12
19
Salem State University (2026)
Salem State University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 167729 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything