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Salem, MA · Worcester, MA
| Salem State University | Worcester State University | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $15,996/yr | $13,381/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $10,516/yr | $8,793/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $25,000 | $19,500 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $13,870/yr | $9,629/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $13,821/yr | $9,540/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $17,590/yr | $13,658/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $23,223/yr | $19,679/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $265/mo | $207/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $16,838/yr | $14,307/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $12,100/yr | $10,793/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,200/yr | $1,368/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $1,784/yr | $1,892/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $28,291/yr | $22,874/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $12,338/yr | $11,786/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $19,531/yr | $17,866/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 35% | 30% |
| Students taking federal loans | 49% | 44% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 96% | 88% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | No data reported | 1026–1283 |
| SAT average | No data reported | 1150 |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 4,852 | 4,745 |
| Students accepted | 4,637 | 4,264 |
| Students who enrolled | 810 | 909 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 17% | 21% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 6% | 9% |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | No data reported | 0% |
| High-school GPA | Required | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Recommendation letters | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Class rank | Not considered | Not considered |
| College-prep program | Required | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Not considered | Optional (considered if sent) |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 50% | 61% |
| Freshmen who come back | 75% | 78% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $56,662/yr | $60,624/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $29,605–$93,086 | $38,887–$89,010 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 62% | 62% |
| White students graduating | 53% | 68% |
| Black students graduating | 48% | 54% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 42% | 42% |
| Asian students graduating | 59% | 57% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $48,209/yr | $50,233/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 73% | 77% |
| Graduate on time | 36% | 48% |
| Pell students who graduate | 47% | 54% |
| First-gen students who finish | 59% | 30% |
| Low-income students who finish | 53% | 32% |
| Students who transfer out | No data reported | 21% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $54,540/yr | $53,751/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Health Professions 18% · Business, Management & Marketing 17% · Psychology 10% | Business, Management & Marketing 20% · Health Professions 16% · Psychology 12% |
| Most popular program | Health Professions — 18% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 20% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 17% of degrees | Health Professions — 16% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Psychology — 10% of degrees | Psychology — 12% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Homeland Security & Protective Services — 8% of degrees | Homeland Security & Protective Services — 8% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Education — 8% of degrees | Education — 8% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $107,751/yr | Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing — $75,249/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 13% | 14% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 4,291 | 3,930 |
| Students per professor | 12 : 1 | 16 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 1,363 | 877 |
| Average professor pay | $10,694/mo | $10,308/mo |
| Full-time professors | 100% | 47% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | New England Commission on Higher Education | New England Commission on Higher Education |
| Median family income | $43,677 | $54,212 |
| Setting | Suburb (large) | City (midsize) |
| Location | Salem, MA | Worcester, MA |
| Region | New England | New England |
| Founded | 1854 | 1874 |
| Public or private | Public | Public |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 3.7% | 2% |
| Men | 36% | 40% |
| Women | 64% | 60% |
| White students | 52% | 59% |
| Black students | 8.8% | 9.9% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 25% | 19% |
| Asian students | 3% | 5.5% |
| Two or more races | 3.8% | 2.9% |
| Other / not reported | 3.8% | 2% |
| Special type | None | None |
| First-generation students | 40% | 36% |
| Part-time students | 13% | 14% |
| Students age 25+ | 13% | 12% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $10,571/yr | $9,709/yr |
| Endowment | $69.6M | $25.6M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 1,675 | 1,584 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | No data reported | $8,793/yr |
| Meal plan charge | No data reported | $4,630/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | Varies by week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | No |
| ROTC | Yes — Army, Air Force | Yes — Army, Navy, Air Force |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | No |
| Credit for life experience | Yes | No |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | Yes | No |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | Yes |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | No |
| Credit for military training | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | Yes | No |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division III without football | NCAA Division III with football |
| Football team | No | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 15 | 20 |
| Student athletes | 290 | 416 |
| Athletic scholarships | $0 | $0 |
| Athletics budget | $1.5M | $2.7M |
| Athletics revenue | $1.5M | $2.8M |
| Recruiting spend | $2,237 | $7,392 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.