Salem State University
Tuition, net price, acceptance rate, graduation rate, and graduate salary · Salem, Massachusetts
Net price / year
$15,996
after grants & scholarships
higher than 69% of public 4-year colleges
Acceptance rate
96%
Graduation rate
52%
within 150% of normal time
higher than 61% of public 4-year colleges
Median earnings
$62,605
4 years after graduating
higher than 64% of public 4-year colleges
Salem State University at a glance
- What is the tuition at Salem State University?
- In-state undergraduate tuition and fees are $12,338 for the 2024-25 academic year, or $19,531 for out-of-state students.
- What is the cost of attendance at Salem State University?
- The average cost of attendance is $28,291 a year before financial aid (2023-24), counting tuition, books, housing and other living expenses.
- What is the net price at Salem State University?
- The average net price for in-state students is $15,996 a year after grants and scholarships (2023-24).
- What is the acceptance rate at Salem State University?
- About 96% of applicants were admitted (fall 2024).
- Is Salem State University test optional?
- Test policy reported to the federal government: Tests neither required nor recommended.
- What is the graduation rate at Salem State University?
- 52% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time, or 6 years (entering classes through fall 2018).
- How much do graduates of Salem State University earn?
- The median graduate earns $62,605 four years after finishing, among graduates working and not enrolled (2024 dollars).
Key takeaways
- The earnings premium over a typical high-school graduate would cover the estimated net cost in about 3.0 years of work (not counting income forgone while studying).
- Families earning under $30,000 pay about $10,516 a year on average, versus $23,223 for families earning over $110,000.
- The school admits 96% of applicants, so most who apply are accepted.
- One year into repayment, 18% of federal-loan borrowers had paid in full or were making progress on their balance (3,855 borrowers).
- Graduates earn a median $62,605 four years after finishing.
Tuition and cost of attendance at Salem State University
Average net price (in-state)
$15,996 per year
Cost of attendance minus average grants and scholarships, for first-time full-time students receiving federal aid.
Estimate your own price with the Salem State University net price calculator ↗
Estimated total net cost
$63,984
Net price × 4 years, at today's prices and assuming on-time completion. Your actual cost depends on your aid.
Net price by family income
Average yearly net price for students receiving federal aid.
- $0–30k $10,516
- $30–48k $13,870
- $48–75k $13,821
- $75–110k $17,590
- $110k+ $23,223
Where the sticker price goes· Cost of attendance $28,291
- Tuition & fees$12,338
- Books & supplies$1,200
- Room & board$16,838
- Other expenses$1,784
- Tuition & fees (in-state)
- $12,338
- Tuition & fees (out-of-state)
- $19,531
Salem State University acceptance rate and admissions
Acceptance rate
Share of applicants admitted.
Test policy: Tests neither required nor recommended
Graduation rate and salary after graduating from Salem State University
Graduation rate
52%
First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time.
Retention rate
74%
Full-time first-years who return the next fall.
Typical monthly payment
$265
On a standard 10-year federal plan.
Years of earnings premium to cover cost
3.0 years
Net cost ÷ (graduate earnings − high-school graduate earnings). Excludes income forgone while studying and assumes today's earnings. A rough guide, not a prediction.
Earnings vs debt
Of graduates working and not enrolled, in 2024 dollars.
- Debt-to-earnings
- 0.4×Median debt divided by median earnings 4 years after graduating.
- Share of pay going to loans
- 5.1%
- 3-year loan default rate
- 0%
Outcomes by student group
The Scorecard reports some outcomes separately for groups of students. A group is left out when it is too small to report. These are school-level figures and say nothing about any individual student.
Completion within 150% of normal time, by group
Share of students who entered in 2018 and completed within 150% of normal time (six years at a four-year college, three at a two-year college).
All students, same entering cohort: 50%
Group rates and the all-student rate come from the same 2018 entering cohort, so they can be compared directly. Groups at small colleges can rest on very few students. Data period: Entering cohort 2018 (IPEDS).
Earnings ten years after entry
All students who entered this college, whether or not they graduated, in 2022 dollars, ten years after entry.
Typical range: middle half of students
25th percentile $29,605 · median $56,662 · 75th percentile $93,086
Median by family income
Median by sex
This is not the same as the graduates' earnings shown above. It covers everyone who entered, including students who left without a degree, ten years after entry and in 2022 dollars. The graduates' figure covers only completers, four years after finishing, in 2024 dollars. Do not compare the two directly.
Data period: Students who entered in academic years 2009-10 and 2010-11 (pooled), earnings measured in 2020 and 2021, 2022 dollars (Treasury).
Median federal student debt, by group
Median federal loan debt of students who borrowed, when they left school, by group.
By Pell Grant status
By first-generation status
By family income
By gender
Data period: Loans in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (pooled, NSLDS).
How borrowers are doing
One year after leaving school and entering repayment, here is where the 3,855 federal-loan borrowers from this college stood. It covers borrowers only, not students who did not take federal loans.
Repayment status one year after entering repayment
- Paid in full 7%
- Making progress 11%
- Not making progress 11%
- Delinquent 2%
- Default 0%
- Forbearance 56%
- Deferment 13%
- Discharged 0%
What the terms mean
- Paid in full:
- The borrower has paid off the loans completely.
- Making progress:
- Payments are reducing the loan balance, not just covering interest.
- Not making progress:
- The borrower is paying, but not enough to shrink the balance.
- Delinquent:
- Payments are late but the loan is not yet in default.
- Default:
- The borrower has missed payments for so long that the loan is officially in default.
- Forbearance:
- Payments are temporarily paused or reduced, and interest may keep adding up.
- Deferment:
- Payments are on hold for an approved reason, such as returning to school.
- Discharged:
- The loan was cancelled, for example because of a disability or a school closure.
3,855 borrowers · Data period: Borrowers who entered repayment in the AY2018-19 and AY2019-20 cohorts (pooled, NSLDS).
Programs and majors at Salem State University ranked by earnings
| Program | Earnings, 4 yrs after | Earnings over time | Compared with the U.S. median for this field | Median debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing Bachelor's · Graduates: 267 | $95,550 | 1 yr$80,6414 yrs$95,5505 yrs$89,918 | U.S. median $88,910 U.S. middle half $67.9K–$114.5K · Above the U.S. median | $27,000 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General Bachelor's · Graduates: 30 | $92,380 | 1 yr$57,7064 yrs$92,380 | U.S. median $92,374 U.S. middle half $64.2K–$128.2K · Above the U.S. median | $26,250 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 22 Small sample | $81,266 | 1 yr$49,4394 yrs$81,266 | U.S. median $65,120 U.S. middle half $48.3K–$84K · Above the U.S. median | $25,750 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations Bachelor's · Graduates: 527 | $67,789 | 1 yr$46,8974 yrs$67,7895 yrs$65,310 | U.S. median $68,257 U.S. middle half $47.6K–$93.6K · Below the U.S. median | $24,250 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 144 | $67,551 | 1 yr$45,6704 yrs$67,5515 yrs$73,807 | U.S. median $57,214 U.S. middle half $38.9K–$79.2K · Above the U.S. median | $26,500 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 17 Small sample | $61,259 | — | U.S. median $69,562 U.S. middle half $49.1K–$97.4K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 90 | $60,026 | 1 yr$45,4504 yrs$60,0265 yrs$53,211 | U.S. median $51,790 U.S. middle half $39.2K–$64.2K · Above the U.S. median | $24,991 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections Bachelor's · Graduates: 143 | $59,774 | 1 yr$44,8124 yrs$59,7745 yrs$59,192 | U.S. median $55,378 U.S. middle half $40.2K–$74.4K · Above the U.S. median | $21,750 |
| Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences Bachelor's · Graduates: 17 Small sample | $59,424 | — | U.S. median $60,190 U.S. middle half $44.3K–$77.6K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 33 | $58,593 | 1 yr$32,5044 yrs$58,5935 yrs$50,774 | U.S. median $57,853 U.S. middle half $42.5K–$75.6K · Above the U.S. median | $21,500 |
Show all 23 programs
| Political Science and Government Bachelor's · Graduates: 18 Small sample | $58,499 | — | U.S. median $63,293 U.S. middle half $44.8K–$85.4K · Below the U.S. median | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods Bachelor's · Graduates: 45 | $56,509 | — | U.S. median $47,382 U.S. middle half $38.4K–$56.1K · Above the U.S. median | — |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas Bachelor's · Graduates: 23 Small sample | $55,808 | — | U.S. median $51,389 U.S. middle half $40.5K–$63.1K · Above the U.S. median | $26,496 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services Bachelor's · Graduates: 22 Small sample | $55,323 | 1 yr$40,5064 yrs$55,323 | U.S. median $58,716 U.S. middle half $41.9K–$80.4K · Below the U.S. median | $25,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 174 | $54,717 | 1 yr$36,4924 yrs$54,7175 yrs$52,718 | U.S. median $50,706 U.S. middle half $35.7K–$67.2K · Above the U.S. median | $22,749 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 28 Small sample | $51,573 | 1 yr$39,8224 yrs$51,5735 yrs$55,337 | U.S. median $52,657 U.S. middle half $37.7K–$69.5K · Below the U.S. median | $25,250 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness Bachelor's · Graduates: 124 | $51,362 | 1 yr$31,7554 yrs$51,3625 yrs$53,920 | U.S. median $54,562 U.S. middle half $39K–$73K · Below the U.S. median | $25,000 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 49 | $50,397 | 1 yr$26,1804 yrs$50,3975 yrs$44,271 | U.S. median $41,367 U.S. middle half $26.2K–$56.7K · Above the U.S. median | $27,000 |
| Communication and Media Studies Bachelor's · Graduates: 111 | $50,260 | 1 yr$34,3024 yrs$50,2605 yrs$53,766 | U.S. median $56,359 U.S. middle half $39.6K–$76.1K · Below the U.S. median | $24,847 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 36 | $49,572 | 1 yr$29,3074 yrs$49,5725 yrs$54,844 | U.S. median $50,680 U.S. middle half $36.3K–$66.7K · Below the U.S. median | $25,450 |
| Bachelor's · Graduates: 122 | $45,568 | 1 yr$33,0654 yrs$45,5685 yrs$46,529 | U.S. median $49,808 U.S. middle half $38.6K–$60.8K · Below the U.S. median | $25,500 |
| English Language and Literature, General Bachelor's · Graduates: 47 | $43,621 | 1 yr$32,8444 yrs$43,6215 yrs$44,760 | U.S. median $48,590 U.S. middle half $33.7K–$63.8K · Below the U.S. median | $26,250 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General Bachelor's · Graduates: 31 | $32,484 | 1 yr$24,6994 yrs$32,4845 yrs$35,940 | U.S. median $41,688 U.S. middle half $25.8K–$59.9K · Below the U.S. median | $25,874 |
Earnings are for graduates working and not enrolled, 4 years after completing, in 2024 dollars.
The U.S. median and middle half (25th to 75th percentile) are for graduates of the same field and credential level at all colleges, 4 years after completing.
The 1-year, 4-year and 5-year figures come from different graduating cohorts and dollar years (1-year: AY2018-19 and AY2019-20 graduates, 2022 dollars; 4-year: AY2017-18 and AY2018-19 graduates, 2024 dollars; 5-year: AY2014-15 and AY2015-16 graduates, 2022 dollars), so read them as three separate measures, not a single career path.
Small samples are noisy: the Scorecard adds privacy noise to program figures and some rows are based on only a handful of graduates, so rows marked “small sample” can move a lot from year to year.
What students study
The largest fields among the degrees and certificates this college awarded, grouped by two-digit CIP code (the federal Classification of Instructional Programs). Fields under 1% are left out.
Share of degrees and certificates awarded, by field
A large share means many awards, not necessarily many students or higher earnings. Data period: Awards in academic year 2024-25 (IPEDS).
Who attends
A snapshot of the undergraduate student body as this college reported it to the federal government. Shares are shown as published; they can differ slightly from 100% because of rounding.
Race and ethnicity
- White 52%
- Black or African American 8.8%
- Hispanic or Latino 25%
- Asian 3%
- American Indian or Alaska Native 0.1%
- Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 0%
- Two or more races 3.8%
- U.S. nonresident 3.7%
- Race and ethnicity unknown 3.7%
Federal reporting categories. Students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents are counted as nonresident, and students who did not report are counted as unknown. Data period: Fall 2024 (IPEDS).
Gender
- Men 36.4%
- Women 63.6%
Federal reporting uses two categories. Data period: Fall 2024 (IPEDS).
Students aged 25 or older
13%
of undergraduates
Many adult students work or have families while enrolled. Data period: Fall 2023 (IPEDS).
Students and campus
- Undergraduate enrollment
- 4,291
- Part-time students
- 13%
- Receive Pell Grants
- 35%
- Receive federal loans
- 49%
- Students per faculty member
- 12 : 1
- Setting
- Suburb
Similar colleges
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Net price $16,721Earnings $59,434
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Fitchburg State University
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New Jersey City University
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Northeastern Illinois University
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Net price $14,109Earnings $60,607
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Frequently asked questions
How much is tuition at Salem State University?
For the 2024-25 academic year, Salem State University reported undergraduate tuition and fees of $12,338 for in-state students and $19,531 for out-of-state students. These are published prices before grants and scholarships; what you pay depends on your aid.
What is the cost of attendance and net price at Salem State University?
The average cost of attendance at Salem State University is $28,291 a year (2023-24), counting tuition, books, housing and other living expenses. After grants and scholarships, the average net price is $15,996 a year. That is around the middle of public 4-year colleges.
How much financial aid do students at Salem State University get?
35% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants. 49% receive federal loans. The average net price runs from $10,516 a year for families earning under $30,000 to $23,223 for families earning over $110,000 (2023-24).
What is the acceptance rate at Salem State University?
Salem State University admitted about 96% of applicants in fall 2024. That means most applicants are admitted.
What are the graduation rate and retention rate at Salem State University?
52% of first-time, full-time students at Salem State University finish within 150% of normal time. 74% of full-time first-years return the next fall.
How much do Salem State University graduates earn after graduation?
The median graduate earns $62,605 four years after finishing, among graduates working and not enrolled in further study (2024 dollars). One year after finishing, the median is $46,092.
Is Salem State University worth it?
There is no single answer: it depends on your major, your aid and whether you finish. For Salem State University, the data shows this. The earnings premium over a typical high-school graduate would cover the estimated net cost in about 3.0 years of work. Graduates who borrowed have a median debt of $25,000, about 0.4 times their median earnings four years after finishing. 52% of first-time, full-time students finish within 150% of normal time. These are averages, not predictions, and they do not count income forgone while studying.
How much debt do Salem State University graduates have?
Graduates who borrowed have a median federal-loan debt of $25,000, or about $265 a month on a 10-year plan.
Sources and data periods
All figures come from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard (June 2026 release). Periods differ by measure:
- Average net price: AcadYr 2023-24, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
- Acceptance rate: Fall 2024, reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25
- Graduation rate: Fall 2018 or AcadYr 2018-19 cohort (differs by institutional calendar), reported in IPEDS DCY2024-25 pooled with previous years (# of total pooled years found in POOLYRS)
- Median earnings: Treasury AY2017-18, AY2018-19 pooled cohort measured in CY2022, CY2023, inflation adjusted to 2024 dollars
- Median graduate debt: NSLDS FY2020, FY2021 pooled cohorts
Some figures are blank because the school did not report them or the group was too small to publish. How we calculate things