Salem State University Acceptance Rate & Tuition (2026)
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 Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $12,338
- 2024 Average Net Price: $15,996 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 95.88% Moderate Selectivity
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 4,291 86.7% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 49.77%
- Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
- First-Generation Students: 40.3%
- Tuition trend: In-state tuition increase of 0.0% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Net price trend: Average net price increase of 0.4% from 2022 to 2023 (College Scorecard).
- Full-Time Faculty: 100.0%
- Average SAT Score: 1090
- Undergraduate Enrollment: 5,556
- Applicants (IPEDS): 4,852
- Room & Board: $16,838 annual estimate
Salem State University: what the data shows
Common questions about Salem State University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Salem State University?
Salem State University is located in Salem, MA (ZIP 01970).
NCES locale classification: Rural fringe.
Is Salem State University public or private?
Salem State University is a Public institution.
How much does Salem State University cost?
Published tuition: $12,338 in-state, $19,531 out-of-state.
Average net price after aid: $15,996.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $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.
How hard is it to get into Salem State University?
Admission rate: 95.88%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1090.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Salem State University?
Total enrollment: 4,291 students.
Undergraduate enrollment: 5,556 students.
Graduate enrollment: 1,363 students.
About 87% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Salem State University?
150%-time completion rate: 49.77%.
First-year retention: 75.2%.
What do graduates of Salem State University earn?
Median earnings: $48,209 six years after entry; $56,662 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $25,000.
35.38% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Salem State University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse (174 completions)
- Social Work (157 completions)
- Education, General (115 completions)
- Psychology, General (97 completions)
- Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration (92 completions)
- Early Childhood Education & Teaching (85 completions)
- Business Administration and Management, General (67 completions)
- Biology/Biological Sciences, General (53 completions)
- Elementary Education and Teaching (49 completions)
- English Language and Literature, General (45 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Salem State University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 95.88%; completion rate 49.77%; median earnings $56,662 at 10 years; net price $15,996. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Tuition & Cost
Tuition Costs
$12,338
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Salem State University was $12,338.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$15,996
2024 Value
In 2024 Salem State University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $15,996.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$63,984 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$15,996 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$49,352 4-Year In-State Tuition
$78,124 4-Year Out-of-State Tuition
$16,838 Room & Board (annual, on-campus estimate)
$1,200 Books & Supplies (annual estimate)
$30,376 Estimated Annual Sticker (tuition + room/board + books)
$121,504 Estimated 4-Year Sticker (before aid)
4-year total cost breakdown for Salem State University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
35.38% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
49.10% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
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.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Acceptance Rate
95.88% Acceptance Rate
4,852 Total Applicants
4,637 Students Admitted
810 First-Time Students Enrolled
17.47% Yield (enrolled ÷ admitted)
This institution has a moderate acceptance rate, accepting most qualified applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1090
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.0 - 3.4
Estimated Median GPA: 3.20
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
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
The largest enrollment share in our College Scorecard extract is White at 52.0%.
Shares are for total enrollment (undergraduate and graduate combined when reported).
College Scorecard student demographics.
Graduates & Outcomes
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
Combined IPEDS award counts across reported programs; largest group: White.
Summed across program completion records in our extract.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Salem State University.
Return on Investment
$25,000 Median Student Debt
$56,662 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
44.12% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
785.57% Return on Investment
4.4 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Salem State University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 largest programs by IPEDS completions (of 93 reported codes; aggregate/unknown CIP buckets excluded).
1. Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse: 174 completions
2. Social Work: 157 completions
3. Education, General: 115 completions
4. Psychology, General: 97 completions
5. Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration: 92 completions
6. Early Childhood Education & Teaching: 85 completions
7. Business Administration and Management, General: 67 completions
8. Biology/Biological Sciences, General: 53 completions
9. Elementary Education and Teaching: 49 completions
Most popular programs at Salem State University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Salem State University graduates.
Operations
Instructional staffing and expenditure indicators for Salem State University from College Scorecard (not a full IPEDS finance statement).
Instructional Resources
- Full-time faculty share: 100.0%
- Average faculty salary (Scorecard): $10,694
- Instructional expenditure per FTE: $10,571
Endowment and detailed non-instructional staff counts require IPEDS Finance/HR surveys and are not in this extract.
Scorecard instructional metrics where reported.
About
Salem State University is a public institution located in Salem, MA, classified as Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs. In the latest IPEDS completions in our extract, the largest programs by awards were Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse, Social Work, Education, General. Enrollment is approximately 4,291 students. Student body composition includes White (52.0%), Hispanic or Latino (25.0%), Black or African American (8.8%). The admission rate is 95.88%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1090. The 150%-time completion rate is 49.77%. Approximately 35.38% of students receive Pell Grants. About 40.3% of students are first-generation college students.
Institution Type
Public
Carnegie Classification: Master's Colleges and Universities: Medium Programs
Location
Salem, MA 01970
Region: New England
Insights and Analysis
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 93 distinct degree programs, Salem State University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
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.
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 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.
Is Salem State University an HBCU?
No. Salem State University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Salem State University a tribal college?
No. Salem State University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
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
- Massachusetts college costs
- Massachusetts colleges by ROI
- New England regional profile
- All state profiles
- Regional profiles
- National benchmarks
- School directory
- All schools in Massachusetts
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 for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.