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Salem State University
Salem, MA
Salem State University, located in Salem, Massachusetts, is a public institution offering a range of undergraduate and graduate programs. Founded in 1854, the university has a long-standing history of educational excellence and community engagement. With its commitment to access, success, diversity, and inclusion, Salem State University provides students with a supportive environment to pursue their academic and professional goals.
At Salem State University, students have access to over 100 undergraduate programs in various disciplines, including business, education, health sciences, social sciences, humanities, and the arts. The university also offers numerous graduate programs, including master's degrees, certificates, and doctoral programs, in areas such as business administration, education, nursing, criminal justice, and social work. Students benefit from a comprehensive education that combines rigorous coursework with hands-on learning experiences, internships, and research opportunities.
Salem State University's campus prides itself on its state-of-the-art facilities, including modern classrooms, research labs, libraries, and performance venues. Additionally, the university emphasizes the importance of engagement beyond the classroom, offering a myriad of student organizations, leadership programs, and community service opportunities. With its vibrant campus life, commitment to student success, and excellent faculty, Salem State University prepares students for meaningful careers and active participation in their communities.
Located in Salem, MA and set in an urban environment, Salem State University is a public comprehensive higher education institution. This institution follows a semester-based calendar. It has an acceptance rate of 95%. The freshman retention rate at Salem State University is 73.66% and the six-year graduation rate is 55%.
Explore this school's profile to find out the most important things about Salem State University.
Quick Facts
4,853
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
95%
Acceptance Rate
55%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
Discovering as much as possible about the institution's criteria for admission increases your chances of getting admitted. What are the admission requirements for Salem State University?
According to the most recent data, this school uses standardized test scores for admission and it admitted 4,637 in 2024. Salem State University has an official test-optional admission policy but takes into consideration standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the applicant. As far as admission difficulty is considered, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is relatively easy to get into.
Test Scores
1.92% of the first-year students submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 18.27% between 1,200 and 1,399, 70.19% between 1,000 and 1,199, 8.65% of the students between 800 and 999, and 0.96% between 600 and 799. The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.25. That means that you need a GPA that's above average in order to get into Salem State University.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 535 for the accepted students, while the average SAT Math score was 525.
Retention Rate
The freshman retention rate is defined as the percentage of first-year students who return for their sophomore year at a college or university. That information can tell you if the majority of new students liked their first year enough to come back.
The freshman retention rate for Salem State University was 73.66% in 2024, reflecting the superb quality of the educational programs at this institution.
The graduation rate is another indicator to take into account. This metric measures how efficiently students complete their degrees within a specific time period. At this academic institution, the proportion of students graduating in six years is 55%.
Student Body
It is always challenging to figure out which school is best for you. You can better comprehend the culture and life of the school by learning more about the student body.
Main Student Body
In 2024, the institution enrolled 6,239 students.
That year, the school had 6% of out-of-state students. The total number of undergraduate students enrolled at the institution was 4,853, 131 of which were international students. 349 students enrolled as transfer students.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 1,444 male and 2,817 female full-time students in 2024, which is indicative of the value gender equality has at this school.
Student Population Diversity
The importance of student diversity cannnot be denied, when it comes to the overall feeling of inclusion and beloning among the students of any school. In a diverse learning space, you will be exposed to people from different backgrounds, which promotes the feeling of inclusion and acceptance. Discover more about the many ethnic communities that go to this school.
In 2024, out of the total number of students enrolled at the institution, the number of students of Asian origin was 123, and the number of Black American students was 365. 992 undergrads at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 154 identified with more than one race. There were also 115 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
Financial planning for school is one of the most important things to consider before you apply. Here are some data on the expenses that most students at this school have.
Tuition and Fees
Wondering about tuition at Salem State University? Here is what you need to know.
If you are an area resident, your tuition was $910.08. Tuition fees were $7,050 for students coming from out of state. If you are an international student at Salem State University, you should know that the 2024 tuition amounted to $7,050, as well. Full-time students in 2024 were obliged to pay additional fees in the amount of $11,428.32.
| Tuition | Fees | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $7,050 | $11,428 | $18,478 |
| In-State | $910 | $11,428 | $12,338 |
Boarding
The cost of dorm rooms and meals in the school's cafeteria is for sure something to take into consideration. How much do room and board fees average around at schools?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Salem State University was $15,336 in 2024. If you only wanted a dorm room, you had to pay $10,284 for the 2024 academic year.
| Tuition | $ 910 |
| Room and Board | $ 15,336 |
| Total Expense | $ 16,246 |
Financial Aid
There are different types of financial support: grants, loans, scholarships, and work-study programs. If you want to find out more about need-based and non-need-based aid at Salem State University, here are some recent data you should consider.
The most recent records show that 889 freshmen received some sort of financial help. The average amount of financial aid given to students was $10,189.
Need-based
Need-based financial aid is exactly what it sounds like — it’s awarded based on the determined financial need.
There were 2,945 students who got need-based financial aid of any kind. The overall number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was found to be 3,903. The amount of federal need-based scholarships/grants awarded to the students at this institution stood at $12,417,694, and state $4,616,602.
$1,771
Average Amount of Aid Received
Non-Need Based
Non-need-based aid is any type of financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid. Most students get non-need-based financial aid as Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the TEACH Grant.
Institutional non-need-based scholarships or grants were given to 1,456 students overall (including freshmen) at Salem State University in 2024. 379 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. The total amount of non-need-based institutional scholarships/grants was $3,357,190. This includes endowment, alumni, other institutional awards, and also external funds awarded by the institution, but doesn't include athletic aid and tuition waivers. The amount the students of this school received from external sources (e.g. Kiwanis, National Merit) was $1,191,377 USD.
Majors
Campus Life
Knowing what to expect out of campus life at a college or university can set you up for success. Check out some details about campus life at Salem State University.
Its campus spans 62 acres.
Student Organizations
Exploring a variety of student organizations can contribute to a more vibrant and rewarding educational experience.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 70. This number includes sororities and fraternities. The student organization with the highest level of popularity is International Student Association, followed by Multicultural Student Association and Residence Hall Association. Other popular organizations among the students at Salem State University are Program Council and Student Government Association.
In case you're interested in acting, there is a drama club you can consider joining.
Student Services
At Salem State University, there are many amenities that make life on campus pleasant and safe.
There are 24-hour emergency phone and alarm devices. The dormitory entrances at the school are electronically controlled. There is a security patrol available 24/7. The transport/escort service operates during late hours.
This school has a health clinic with personal/psychological counseling. In addition, other services like Legal Services and Women's Center are available to the students of Salem State University.
All in all, campus life at Salem State University is rich and vibrant and provides all you need for a comfortable stay.
Career Services
Having career services at a college or university can mean a great deal for your career planning, so find out what you can expect at Salem State University.
Career Counselling
There are a library, a job bank, and job fairs. Job interviews are also available to students through the career center. The career center offers resume preparation and resume referral to employers. There is campus employer recruitment for full-time students only.
FAQ
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Salem State University is located in Salem, MA.
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This school uses standardized test scores for admission.
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The most recent data indicate that the acceptance rate for Salem State University is 95%.
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The most recent data indicate that the freshman retention rate for Salem State University is 73.66%.
Contact Information
Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved. Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.
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Data Source: IPEDS and Peterson's Databases © 2023 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved.
Portions of this content were co-written with OpenAI's GPT-3.5 model.