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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, 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 75% and the six-year graduation rate is 50%.
To find out more about what Salem State University has to offer to its students, read on for the latest data reported by this school.
Quick Facts
4,867
Total Number of Undergraduate Students
12:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
50%
Graduation Rate
Admissions
You need to learn as much as you can about the entrance requirements of the university in order to improve your chances of being accepted. Here are the most important information you should know about admission policy and requirements at Salem State University.
In 2025, the school accepted 7,625 new students. Salem State University has an official test-optional admission policy but considers standardized test scores in cases when they are submitted by the candidate. Looking at entrance difficulty level for all or most incoming freshmen, based on data self-reported by the institution this school is relatively easy to get into.
Test Scores
1.92% of the freshmen submitted SAT composite scores between 1,400 and 1,600, 13.52% between 1,200 and 1,399, 62.16% between 1,000 and 1,199, 21.62% of the students between 800 and 999, and 2.7% of the students between 600 and 799. The latest reported average GPA of the enrolled students was 3.17. This implies that you'll probably need a GPA above the average to secure admission.
The SAT Critical Reading average score was 535 for the newly enrolled students, while the average SAT Math score was 525.
Retention Rate
The percentage of freshmen at a college or university who stay on for their second year is known as the freshman retention rate. 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 75% in 2025, a testament to the outstanding educational experience provided by 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 school, the rate of students graduating within six years is 50%.
Student Body
Making the choice of which school is the optimal fit for you is not simple. You can better understand the culture and life of the school by finding out more about the student body.
Main Student Body
The overall number of students enrolled at Salem State University in 2025 was 6,230.
That year, the school had 7.11% of out-of-state students. There was a total of 4,867 students working towards bachelor's degrees, including 157 international students. The number of transfer students at this school was 395.
Student Population Gender Ratio
The student body is coeducational, with 1,501 male and 2,768 female full-time students in 2025.
Student Population Diversity
Higer Education is committed to expanding the diversity of its student population and improving students' sense of inclusion and belonging. A diverse student body brings together individuals from different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Find out more about different ethnic groups you can meet at Salem State University.
This school had 130 Asian students and 376 Afro-American students in 2025. 1,072 undergraduate students at this school declared as Hispanic/Latino and 162 identified with more than one race. There were also 158 students whose ethnicity is unknown.
Cost
The financial aspect is one of the most important things to think about before applying to any college or university. Here are some data on the expenses that most students at this school have.
Tuition and Fees
Here are some facts that can be useful if you were curious about Salem State University estimated tuition fees.
For local residents, public county and municipal institutions reported that tuition costs were $910.08. Tuition fees were $7,050 for students coming from out of state. For international students, tuition fees at this school stood at $7,050, as well. Fees per academic year required of full-time students came to a total of $11,219.52 in 2025.
| Category | Tuition | Fees | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Out-of-State | $7,050 | $11,220 | $18,269 |
| In-State | $910 | $11,220 | $12,129 |
Boarding
Before you apply to a college or university, you should, among other things, think about the price of a dorm room and cafeteria meals. What do schools typically charge for accommodation and meals?
The cost of room and board (on campus) per academic year at Salem State University was $16,014 in 2025. Room-only (on campus) cost per academic year at this school amounted to $10,758, according to the data from 2025.
| Expense Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | $ 910 |
| Room and Board | $ 16,014 |
| Total Expense | $ 16,924 |
Financial Aid
Be it a grant, loan, scholarship, or work-study program, any type of financial aid can be a great deal for most students. Check out some recent data to get informed about need-based and non-need-based monetary aid available at Salem State University.
The most recent figures show that financial help was given to 889 freshmen. The average financial aid package awarded to students reached $10,189.
Need-based
Need-based aid is financial aid that a student can receive if they are determened to have financial need and meet other eligibility criteria.
There were 2,945 students who received need-based financial aid of any kind. The total number of students (including freshmen) who were determined to have financial need was estimated 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
Any financial aid given to a student who does not meet the requirements for need-based aid is considered non-need-based aid. Non-need-based student aid typicaly comes in a form of Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans, Graduate PLUS Loans, Parent PLUS Loans, and the Teacher Education Access for College and Higher Education (TEACH) Grant.
1,456 students, including freshmen, obtained institutional non-need-based financial aid at this institution in 2025. 379 full-time freshmen were awarded institutional non-need-based scholarship or grant aid. The total amount of institutional scholarships and awards that were not based on financial need 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. $1,191,377 was the amount that the students at this institution got from external sources (like Kiwanis and National Merit).
Majors
Faculty
12:1
Student to Faculty Ratio
The student-to-faculty or student-to-professor ratio is the number of students compared to the number of professors at a school.
In 2025, this ratio at Salem State University was 12:1. That means that there were 12 times more students than teachers at this school. According to the most recent information, there are 640 teachers at this school. This number included 242 male and 398 female faculty members. The fact that female faculty members outnumber the male ones at this school speaks volumes for gender equality at Salem State University.
Student Population Diversity Graph
Campus Life
Not everything at Salem State University is about learning and grades: campus life is an essential part of your educational experience. Find out some information about students' life at Salem State University.
It has a campus size of 62 acres.
Student Organizations
Joining multiple student organizations can provide you a more interesting and dynamic experience.
The number of student organizations and groups with open membership at this school is 70. Sororities and fraternities are included in that number. The most popular student organization is International Student Association, followed by Multicultural Student Association and Residence Hall Association. Other popular student organizations at this school are Program Council and Student Government Association.
For individuals with a passion for acting, there is a drama club available.
Student Services
Salem State University has a number of services needed for a comfortable and safe life on campus.
There are phone and alarm devices that can be accessed 24/7 for emergency situations. There are electronically operated dormitory entrances. There is a security patrol that operates 24 hours a day. The late-night transport/escort service is available.
There is a medical 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 has an official test-optional admission policy but makes use of SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, or other standardized test scores in admission decisions for the candidates who choose to submit them.
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The most recent reported acceptance rate for Salem State University is 95%.
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According to the latest information, the freshman retention rate for Salem State University is 75%.
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.
