Salem State University
Salem, MA 01970
About Salem State University
Salem State University is a public research university in Salem, Massachusetts, serving roughly 4,291 students. Admission is moderately selective for first-time degree-seeking undergraduates reporting admissions data to the Education Department. The acceptance rate is about 95.88% in the latest College Scorecard admissions data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $56,662 among students who received federal aid.
Key findings
- Salem State University charges about 2.2× the national public median tuition ($12,338).
- Versus the Massachusetts median, sticker tuition is about 0.4×.
- Completion within 150% of normal time is 49.77%.
- Median earnings 10 years after entry are $56,662.
Research findings
Finding
Modeled return on investment at Salem State University is strong.
Estimated ROI reaches about 786% using Scorecard cost and 10-year earnings fields in this extract.
Interpretation: On this institution-wide model, typical graduate earnings over a decade substantially exceed estimated net education cost.
Limitation: ROI is institution-wide and not program-specific; individual outcomes vary by major, aid package, and labor market.
Finding
Salem State University awards credentials across a wide program mix.
IPEDS completions cover more than 93 distinct degree programs at this campus.
Interpretation: Institutional averages blend very different fields; program-level completions and earnings matter more than the campus mean alone.
Limitation: Completions counts are not enrollment demand and do not measure program quality.
Cost benchmarks
| Benchmark | Median Tuition | Median Net Price | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salem State University | $12,338 | $15,996 | 1 |
| Public (national median) | $5,512 | — | 1,688 |
| Massachusetts (state median) | $34,256 | $12,244 | 93 |
| Rural (locale median) | $14,160 | $18,700 | 1,649 |
| United States (national median) | $11,900 | $17,156 | — |
Compares this campus to school-type, state, and locale medians plus a U.S. national median (College Scorecard–derived). Locale groups campuses by NCES locale type; state tuition is the median published tuition among campuses in that state.
How expensive is Salem State University really?
Key findings
- Salem State University charges about 2.2× the national public median tuition ($12,338).
- Versus the Massachusetts median, sticker tuition is about 0.4×.
Salem State University tuition
Published undergraduate tuition $12,338
Finding Salem State University charges about 2.2× the national public median tuition.
Evidence Published tuition is $12,338. That is about 2.2× the national public median ($5,512). Versus the Massachusetts median ($34,256), sticker tuition is about 0.4×. Versus the U.S. median ($11,900), sticker is 4% above.
Method Sticker tuition compared with Scorecard-derived medians by ownership, state, locale, and national rollups when available.
Interpretation Published tuition measures sticker price relative to public and geographic peers; it does not equal what undergraduates typically pay after aid.
Limitation Sticker comparisons omit room, board, and institutional aid; average net price and income-band net prices are the stronger signals of typical family cost.
Evidence: published tuition at Salem State University versus school-type, state, locale, and U.S. medians.
Evidence: average net price at Salem State University versus state, locale, and U.S. medians.
What undergraduates typically pay
Finding Average net price at Salem State University is $15,996.
Evidence College Scorecard average net price is $15,996 (cost of attendance minus average grant aid for aided undergraduates). That is about $3,752 above the Massachusetts median net price. Versus rural campuses, net price runs $2,704 below the locale median.
Method Average net price from College Scorecard; compared with state, locale, and U.S. medians from EDsmart aggregates.
Interpretation Average net price is a stronger institutional cost signal than published tuition because it incorporates grant aid.
Limitation The campus average masks large differences by household income; income-band net prices can diverge sharply from the overall average.
Key takeaway At Salem State University, average net price exceeds published tuition alone because net price uses a fuller cost-of-attendance base.
Salem State University: research record
Canonical EDsmart Data findings for Salem State University—costs, outcomes, admissions, and programs—with evidence and methodology notes.
Research findings
Interpretation
The combination of completion and 10-year earnings is a multidimensional outcomes signal; it does not measure educational quality by itself.
Financial profile
In-state tuition
$12,338
Out-of-state tuition
$19,531
Avg. net price
$15,996
Net price by family income
| Income bracket | Avg. annual net price |
|---|---|
| $0–$30,000 | $10,516 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $13,870 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $13,821 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $17,590 |
| $110,001+ | $23,223 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $49,352. See cost investigation.
Student outcomes
Share of first-year students returning the following fall.
Graduation rate and 10-year earnings are in the hero strip above; see Graduates for more.
What Salem State University is known for
Top program completions
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse174
- Social Work157
- Education, General115
- Psychology, General97
- Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration92
See earnings & programs for more.
Admissions landscape
- Broad access — most applicants are admitted.
- Yield: 17% of admitted students enrolled.
- Average SAT: 1090
See Admissions for the full funnel.
Is Salem State University a good school?
Data-framed fit—not a prestige rating.
Salem State University is a good school for those looking for strong completion alongside solid mid-career earnings.
EDsmart Data does not assign an opinion score; this framing summarizes the strongest Scorecard signals for this campus.
More from the data
Location, control, enrollment, and aid context for Salem State University.
Campus
Location
Salem, MA
City / state
- ZIP
- 01970
- NCES locale
- Rural fringe
Compared with Rural campuses nationally, net price is 14% below the median for Rural campuses ($18,700 median).
Control
Institution type
Public
Control
- Region
- New England
- Carnegie
- Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
Size
Enrollment
4,291
Total enrollment
- Undergraduate
- 5,556
- Graduate
- 1,363
- Full-time share
- 87%
Student aid
Debt & aid
$25,000
Median federal loan debt
- Pell grant share
- 35.38%
Total Cost, Aid & Default
Total Cost of Attendance
Tuition vs average net price after aid for Salem State University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Salem State University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Salem State University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $8,130 | $14,270 | $15,420 |
| 2014 | $8,646 | $14,786 | $15,762 |
| 2015 | $9,246 | $15,508 | $16,884 |
| 2016 | $9,736 | $16,148 | $17,856 |
| 2017 | $10,278 | $16,706 | $18,395 |
| 2018 | $10,642 | $17,082 | $19,265 |
| 2019 | $11,128 | $17,994 | $18,399 |
| 2020 | $11,675 | $18,480 | $19,017 |
| 2021 | $11,675 | $18,480 | $17,497 |
| 2022 | $11,978 | $18,961 | $18,359 |
| 2023 | $11,978 | $18,961 | $18,441 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
How difficult is it to get in?
Acceptance Rate
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Applicants → admits → first-time enrollment from College Scorecard / IPEDS. Bar widths are scaled for readability at highly selective schools.
Test Scores
Average 1090 (middle 50% not reported)
Scores for enrollees who submitted tests (College Scorecard).
Academic Requirements
Estimated from admission selectivity and test scores. Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
Estimated range · median 3.20
Estimated GPA band from selectivity and test scores — not an official requirement.
Enrollment & Student Demographics
Salem State University reported total enrollment of about 4,291 students in the latest College Scorecard extract. The student body is about 36% male and 64% female. Enrollment by race and ethnicity includes White (52.0%), Hispanic or Latino (25.0%), and Black or African American (8.8%). About 35.38% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. Roughly 40.3% of students are first-generation college students.
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
86.7% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Salem State University in 2024 is 4,291 students.
Undergraduate enrollment is about 5,556 students. Graduate enrollment is about 1,363 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
75.2%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity
Largest share of total enrollment in our College Scorecard extract.
College Scorecard student demographics (total enrollment shares).
Do students complete their programs?
Time to Complete
36.01% 100% Completion Time
49.77% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 36.01% of students graduating from Salem State University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
Completions by Sex (Top Programs)
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 9% male / 91% female
- Social Work: 13% male / 87% female
- Education, General: 21% male / 79% female
IPEDS completions by sex for the five largest programs (aggregate CIPs excluded).
Completions by Race & Ethnicity
Largest group by summed IPEDS award counts across reported programs.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
Salem State University graduates earn a median of $56,662 ten years after entry
Finding Earnings, debt, and program mix define the financial profile of Salem State University.
Evidence Median earnings 10 years after entry: $56,662. Median federal loan debt: $25,000. Average net price used in cost models: $15,996.
Method College Scorecard median earnings (10-year), median debt, and EDsmart ROI / payback models using campus net price.
Interpretation Institution-wide ROI and debt ratios summarize campus averages; program choice still drives individual outcomes.
Limitation Salary reflects median earnings ten years after entry; ROI is not program-specific.
Key takeaway Salem State University graduates report median earnings of $56,662 ten years after entry—an institution-wide outcomes signal, not a program guarantee.
Return on Investment
Debt and 4-year net cost vs. cumulative 10-year median earnings for Salem State University.
Top Programs by Completions
Largest 10 programs by IPEDS completions (93 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
IPEDS award counts for the largest programs at Salem State University.
Employment Outcomes
Median earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after entry for Salem State University graduates.
How financially powerful is this institution?
Finding: federal finance and Scorecard instructional fields for Salem State University—endowment assets (fiscal year 2023), instructional staffing and expenditure. Compared with state, regional, and U.S. medians from EDsmart Data institutional financials.
Institutional endowment
$110,000
End-of-year assets · Fiscal year 2023
- Massachusetts median 0.00× the median ($62.1M)
- New England median 0.00× the median ($42.9M)
- U.S. median 0.00× the median ($26.4M)
- Massachusetts median 0.00× the median ($30,011)
- New England median 0.00× the median ($23,268)
- U.S. median 0.00× the median ($12,100)
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 100.0%
- Massachusetts median 48.9 pp above median (51.1%)
- New England median 46.7 pp above median (53.3%)
- U.S. median 42.0 pp above median (58.0%)
- Average faculty salary (monthly): $10,694
- Massachusetts median 1.1× the median ($9,649)
- New England median 1.2× the median ($9,262)
- U.S. median 1.4× the median ($7,615)
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $10,571
- Massachusetts median 0.94× the median ($11,192)
- New England median near the median ($10,182)
- U.S. median 1.5× the median ($7,288)
Instructional metrics from College Scorecard. Peer medians are campus-level; see the institutional financials deep dive. Detailed non-instructional staff counts are not included here.
Salem State University at a glance
Salem State University
Salem State University is a public institution in Salem, MA, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs.
- Largest programs (IPEDS awards)
- Registered Nursing/Registered NurseSocial WorkEducation, General
- Largest enrollment groups
- White or Caucasian52.0%Hispanic or Latino25.0%Black or African American8.8%
Schools near Salem State University
Other campuses in Salem, MA when available, plus nearby institutions in Massachusetts.
Similar schools
Peers matched by the same EDsmart outcomes grade (Grade C-) within Massachusetts, then by similar ownership and admissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Salem State University located?
Salem State University is located in Salem, MA.
What is Salem State University's acceptance rate?
The acceptance rate at Salem State University is 95.9% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data. IPEDS reports 4,852 applicants and 4,637 admits in the latest admissions cycle in our extract.
What is Salem State University's tuition?
Salem State University tuition (published undergraduate sticker price) is $12,338 in the latest College Scorecard data. Average net price after grant aid is $15,996 for undergraduates receiving Title IV aid.
How much does Salem State University cost?
Reported tuition is $12,338 and average net price is $15,996 in the latest College Scorecard data. On-campus room and board is estimated at $16,838 annually.
What explains Salem State University's return on investment in EDsmart Data?
EDsmart Data models ROI using campus average net price ($15,996), completion (49.8% within 150% of normal time where reported), and median earnings ten years after entry ($56,662). High completion and strong mid-career earnings relative to net cost raise modeled ROI; the estimate is institution-wide and not program-specific. Debt-to-earnings ratios, when available, further contextualize borrowing pressure. Limitations include suppressed fields, program mix, and labor-market variation over time.
What is the student body demographics at Salem State University?
Salem State University reports undergraduate enrollment of about 5,556 students, White (52.0%), Hispanic or Latino (25.0%) in federal College Scorecard data.
How many first-generation students attend Salem State University?
About 40.3% of students at Salem State University are first-generation college students.
What test scores do students need for Salem State University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Salem State University reports midpoint SAT about 1090.
What do graduates of Salem State University earn?
Median earnings are $48,209 six years after entry and $56,662 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Salem State University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 49.8% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Salem State University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $25,000.
Is Salem State University public or private?
Salem State University is a public institution located in Salem, MA.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology & Data Scope
This profile uses institution-level fields from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, merged with IPEDS directory attributes where needed for locale, ownership, and program completions.
Benchmark rows compare this campus to NCES locale-type medians (for example Suburban) from our processed location extract. Implied U.S. medians are derived from locale-vs-national percentage fields in that extract—not a separate national Scorecard table.