Education
Ranked #57 of 521 for valueTeacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods · 63 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $56,509
- Ranked-college median: $48,822
- Median debt
- $20,603
- Ranked-college median: $21,500
Salem State University-Massachusetts acceptance rate
Acceptance rate: 95.9% (fall admissions, CollegesRef 2026–27 edition). 5,659 of 6,287 applicants were admitted. Admissions details
What we know
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025- Students
- 4,291
Larger than 75% of colleges
National median 1,603
Salem State University-MassachusettsMiddle half of collegesNational median
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Salem State University-Massachusetts admitted 95.9% of 6,287 applicants.
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
- Applicants6,287
95.9% of applicants were admitted
- Admitted5,659
15.9% of admitted students enrolled (yield)
- Enrolled (first-year)898
Cost & financial aid
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
Average net price
$12,921
What students paid per year on average after grants and scholarships. Your price depends on family income.
Published price vs. what students paid
- In-state tuition & fees
- $12,708
- Out-of-state tuition & fees
- $20,117
- Average net price
- $12,921
Students receiving Pell Grants
- Pell Grant recipients
- 41.4%
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- Can I afford it?Loan payment against what its graduates earn
- How much can I borrow?Federal loan limits and what is left to cover
- Will I get a Pell Grant?Estimate this year's award from your SAI
- What would I repay?Monthly payments on $27,000 of loans
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A PDF that applies the 2026–27 federal aid rules to you and up to three colleges: Pell Grant, loan limits, the gap left and repayment.
Start with the Pell Grant estimator See a sample reportOutcomes
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
48.9%
Graduation rate
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time
75.3%
First-year retention
Students who return for a second year
Median earnings
$62,762
Former students who received federal aid
Where Salem State University-Massachusetts ranks
- #57Best colleges for educationof 521 ranked
- #119Best colleges for biologyof 680 ranked
- #125Best colleges for criminal justiceof 379 ranked
Programs at Salem State University-Massachusetts
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard, field of study, 2025
Bachelor's majors where Salem State University-Massachusetts is ranked in CollegesRef's value rankings. Earnings are medians 4 years after graduating, for graduates who received federal aid; the tick on each bar marks the median of all ranked colleges in that field.
Biology
Ranked #119 of 680 for valueBiology, General · 55 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $67,551
- Ranked-college median: $58,001
- Median debt
- $23,000
- Ranked-college median: $20,717
Criminal justice
Ranked #125 of 379 for valueCriminal Justice and Corrections · 83 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $59,774
- Ranked-college median: $55,481
- Median debt
- $25,480
- Ranked-college median: $21,500
Nursing
Ranked #157 of 686 for valueRegistered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing · 174 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $95,550
- Ranked-college median: $85,171
- Median debt
- $25,000
- Ranked-college median: $20,938
Psychology
Ranked #223 of 814 for valuePsychology, General · 97 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $54,717
- Ranked-college median: $51,007
- Median debt
- $23,250
- Ranked-college median: $21,000
Kinesiology and exercise science
Ranked #241 of 459 for valueSports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness · 24 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $51,362
- Ranked-college median: $53,707
- Median debt
- $20,334
- Ranked-college median: $21,500
Computer science
Ranked #299 of 466 for valueComputer and Information Sciences, General · 25 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $92,380
- Ranked-college median: $97,375
- Median debt
- $26,104
- Ranked-college median: $19,500
Business
Ranked #338 of 986 for valueBusiness Administration, Management and Operations · 43 graduates
- Earnings 4 yrs after
- $67,789
- Ranked-college median: $64,860
- Median debt
- $22,994
- Ranked-college median: $21,375
Academics
Verified data· U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
Total students
4,291
Academic calendar
Semester
Carnegie classification
Master's university
A College or University that also has a large number of Master’s Degree programs.
Colleges like Salem State University-Massachusetts
- Westfield State UniversityWestfield, MA
Worcester State UniversityWorcester, MA
Fitchburg State UniversityFitchburg, MA
Location & details
Where the campus is, how far it sits from a major city, and other colleges within reach.
Salem State University-MassachusettsSalem, MA, United States
Distances are straight-line miles, not driving distance. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors, tiles by OpenFreeMap and OpenMapTiles.
Campus
Salem State University-Massachusetts
Salem, MA, United States
- Public
- Master's university
Large suburb
Inside an urbanized area but outside a principal city.
- City
- Suburb (this campus)
- Town
- Rural
Nearest major cityBoston, MA · about 13 mi
In the city250 mi
- Calendar
- Semester
- Website
- salemstate.edu
Colleges nearby
Montserrat College of Art3 mi from Salem State University-Massachusetts
Endicott College4 mi from Salem State University-Massachusetts
Gordon College7 mi from Salem State University-Massachusetts- North Shore Community College7 mi from Salem State University-Massachusetts
Still have a question?
Ask about admissions, cost or campus life at Salem State University-Massachusetts. Answers come from CollegesRef data.
Ask CollegesRefSpecial features
What sets this college apart, grouped by theme, each with what it means and the data or editorial tag behind it.
CollegesRef editorial
Cost & aid
Affordable
Lower cost than many comparable colleges for a typical family.
Average net price $12,921 a year after aid
Athletics
NCAA Division III · No athletic scholarships; athletes balance sports and academics.
- D-INCAA Division I
- D-IINCAA Division II
- D-IIINCAA Division III (this college)
- NAIANAIA
- NJCAANJCAA
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Admit rate, net price and outcomes for Salem State University-Massachusetts and Westfield State University, side by side.
Compare with Westfield State UniversityFrequently asked questions
What is the Salem State University-Massachusetts acceptance rate for 2026?
Salem State University-Massachusetts admitted 95.9% of 6,287 applicants in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition, the most recent release. That is the figure colleges report to the U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS and College Scorecard).
How much is Salem State University-Massachusetts tuition?
In-state tuition at Salem State University-Massachusetts is $12,708 and out-of-state tuition is $20,117 a year before financial aid in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition. The average net price after grants is $12,921 a year.
What is the average net price at Salem State University-Massachusetts?
The average net price at Salem State University-Massachusetts, what first-time, full-time students paid after grants and scholarships, was $12,921 a year in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition. Your own price depends on family income; the college's net price calculator gives a personal estimate.
What is the graduation rate at Salem State University-Massachusetts?
48.9% of first-time, full-time students at Salem State University-Massachusetts graduate within six years (150% of normal time), according to the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.
What colleges are similar to Salem State University-Massachusetts?
The closest matches are Westfield State University, Worcester State University, and Fitchburg State University, based on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile.
Sources
Last checked Nov 3, 2026
- Admissions
- U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
- Cost
- U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
- Outcomes
- U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
- Enrollment
- U.S. College Scorecard · 2025
Figures come from federal reporting. Text marked “CollegesRef editorial” is our own summary, and similar-college lists come from CollegesRef matching. How we source data
