Salem State University (Salem, MA) — Cost, Earnings & Admissions

Stats

College Scorecard figures, each with where this school sits nationally among institutions that report the same measure. A dash means the school does not report it.

Cost

Average net price: $18,441943rd cheapest of 1,985 reporting
In-state tuition & fees: $11,978756th cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Out-of-state tuition & fees: $18,961793rd cheapest of 2,042 reporting
Cost of attendance: $27,615843rd cheapest of 1,985 reporting
Median graduate debt: $25,0001,246th lowest of 1,880 reporting

Outcomes

Median earnings, 10 years after entry: $56,662707th highest of 1,969 reporting
Median earnings, 6 years after entry: $48,209645th highest of 1,964 reporting
Graduation rate (4-year): 55.0%964th highest of 2,031 reporting
Full-time retention: 73.7%1,039th highest of 1,853 reporting

Admissions

Acceptance rate: 95.6%1,425th most selective of 1,608 reporting
Average SAT: 1090706th highest of 1,024 reporting
Median ACT: —

Campus

Undergraduates: 4,286550th largest of 2,162 reporting
Student-faculty ratio: 11.0:1619th smallest of 2,159 reporting
Pell Grant share: 35.3%931st highest of 2,140 reporting

Nearest large-hub airport: 11 mi (BOS)

On 1 of our 111 lists

Every published ranking this school appears on, with its rank there.

Most Selective Colleges in Massachusetts#58

Applying

EANov 15
RDJun 1

Common App member: Yes
Application fee: $50
Personal essay: Optional / not required
Writing supplement: No

Deadlines and essay flags come from the Common App Requirements Grid, joined by school name. Always confirm against the school’s own admissions page before applying.

Best-paying fields of study

Median earnings one and two years after graduating, by field. Showing 12 of 60 reported programs.

Field	Level	1 yr	2 yr
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical NursingHealth Professions	bachelors	$67,324	$69,261
Computer and Information Sciences, GeneralComputer Science	bachelors	$47,846	$67,660
Business Administration, Management and OperationsBusiness	bachelors	$44,499	$43,328
ChemistryPhysical Sciences	bachelors	$43,128	$45,696
Criminal Justice and CorrectionsHomeland Security & Law Enforcement	bachelors	$40,697	$36,282
MathematicsMathematics & Statistics	bachelors	$40,312	$38,289
Social WorkPublic Administration	bachelors	$39,729	$37,110
Geological and Earth Sciences/GeosciencesPhysical Sciences	bachelors	$38,289	$28,598
Biology, GeneralBiological Sciences	bachelors	$37,517	$41,308
SociologySocial Sciences	bachelors	$36,938	$36,149
Psychology, GeneralPsychology	bachelors	$34,866	$35,505
Health and Physical Education/FitnessParks, Recreation & Fitness	bachelors	$34,526	$31,265

Campus facts

Founded in 1854source
Athletic nickname: "Vikings"source
Competes in NCAA Division IIIsource
Formerly known as "Salem Normal School" (1854–1932)source
Formerly known as "Salem Teachers College" (1932–1960)source
Formerly known as "Salem State College" (1960–2010)source

Athletics — 10 sports

NCAA Division III without football · NCAA Division III

Athletic scholarships not allowed · Athletic aid $0 (M $0 · W $0)

Self-reported EADA participants (2024-2025). Athletic aid is institution-level, not per sport. Athletic scholarships are not allowed by association rule; non-athletic merit or need-based aid may still be available.