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Salem State University

Salem State University is a public campus in suburban Salem, MA.

What could it cost?

Start with net price after grants, then read the published costs. Each chart names its academic year and the students it covers.

Net price by family income

key chart

Average annual cost after grants for each family-income band. These group averages are not personal price quotes.

IPEDS Income brackets, 2022–23

family-income band

$13,384

family income
under $30k

$14,747

$30–48k

$17,712

$48–75k

$21,398

$75–110k

$24,642

over $110k

Average net price

$15,9962023–24Skip to data table

Average annual attendance cost after grants for the reported student group. Your own aid offer and costs may differ.

Average net price at Salem State University rose from $13,776 (2008) to $15,996 (2023).

Average net price — data
Year	Net price
2008	$13,776
2009	$13,219
2010	$15,028
2011	$15,288
2012	$15,420
2013	$15,762
2014	$16,884
2015	$17,856
2016	$18,395
2017	$19,265
2018	$18,399
2019	$19,017
2020	$17,497
2021	$18,359
2022	$18,441
2023	$15,996

IPEDS 16 federal reports, 2008–2023

Total cost of attendance

$28,2912024–25Skip to data table

Estimated annual attendance budget before grants, including tuition, fees, housing, food and books. Not every expense is billed by the school.

Total cost at Salem State University rose from $17,224 (2009) to $28,291 (2024).

Total cost of attendance — data
Year	Cost
2009	$17,224
2010	$18,022
2011	$19,496
2012	$19,954
2013	$20,601
2014	$20,484
2015	$21,802
2016	$22,626
2017	$23,828
2018	$24,954
2019	$25,612
2020	$26,423
2021	$25,446
2022	$27,335
2023	$27,615
2024	$28,291

IPEDS Academic-year cost 2009–2024

Tuition (in-state vs out-of-state)

Skip to data table

Published tuition and fees before grants. Housing, food, books and other attendance costs are separate.

In-stateOut-of-state

Tuition — data
Year	In-state	Out-of-state
2000	$3,098	$9,178
2001	$3,038	$9,178
2002	$3,937	$10,077
2003	$4,138	$11,178
2004	$5,454	$11,594
2005	$6,094	$12,234
2006	$6,030	$12,170
2007	$6,210	$12,350
2008	$6,342	$12,482
2013	$8,130	$14,270
2014	$8,646	$14,786
2015	$9,246	$15,508
2016	$9,736	$16,148
2017	$10,278	$16,706
2018	$10,642	$17,082
2019	$11,128	$17,994
2020	$11,675	$18,480
2021	$11,675	$18,480
2022	$11,978	$18,961
2023	$11,978	$18,961

IPEDS Published price 2000–01 to 2023–24 (not adjusted for inflation)

Cost, size & completion summary

Cost, size & completion

Salem State University reports tuition of $12,338 for in-state students and $19,531 for out-of-state students. Check Salem State University’s residency rules, attendance budget and aid offer. Scorecard snapshot: 2026-06-10; historical charts show their own years.

At 4,291 undergrads, Salem State University is a mid-sized campus by U.S. standards.

49.8% of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants completed at Salem State University within six years (2026-06-10 release). This measure excludes other student groups.

Do students finish — and what comes after?

Graduation, debt and earnings cover different groups. Read each chart's entering class or fiscal period; they are not one group's journey.

Six-year graduation rate

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49.8%entered Fall 2018Skip to data table

The share of first-time, full-time bachelor's entrants who completed at this institution within six years. Other students are not included.

The six-year graduation rate at Salem State University rose from 25.9% (entered 1991) to 49.8% (entered 2018).

A six-year rate can only describe a class that entered six or more years ago — by definition the last point on the line is that old.

Six-year graduation rate — data
Year	Graduated within 6 yrs
1991 cohort	25.9%
1992 cohort	32.9%
1993 cohort	29.2%
1994 cohort	32.1%
1995 cohort	31.4%
1996 cohort	34.1%
1997 cohort	37%
1998 cohort	42.4%
1999 cohort	39.9%
2000 cohort	39.8%
2001 cohort	37.3%
2002 cohort	43.5%
2003 cohort	43.4%
2004 cohort	42.3%
2005 cohort	41.7%
2006 cohort	45.4%
2007 cohort	45.6%
2008 cohort	46%
2009 cohort	50%
2010 cohort	51.9%
2011 cohort	52.1%
2012 cohort	57.8%
2013 cohort	57.1%
2014 cohort	59.4%
2015 cohort	56.8%
2016 cohort	55.4%
2017 cohort	55%
2018 cohort	49.8%

IPEDS Entering cohorts 1991–2018

Median debt at exit (completers vs non-completers)

Historical student groups

key chart

Skip to data table

Median federal student loan debt when students left school, shown separately for those who completed and those who did not.

CompletedLeft without degree

Each point combines two years. Neighboring points share one year, so changes should be read with that overlap in mind.

These two-year windows closed before today's students borrowed — they describe past cohorts, not the current price of a degree.

Median debt at exit — data
Year	Completed	Left without degree
Left school in fiscal years 1999 and 2000 (FY1999/00)	—	$6,994
Left school in fiscal years 2002 and 2003 (FY2002/03)	—	$6,232
Left school in fiscal years 2003 and 2004 (FY2003/04)	—	$6,125
Left school in fiscal years 2004 and 2005 (FY2004/05)	$7,354	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2005 and 2006 (FY2005/06)	$13,584	$4,552
Left school in fiscal years 2006 and 2007 (FY2006/07)	$14,140	$3,989
Left school in fiscal years 2007 and 2008 (FY2007/08)	$14,790	$4,583
Left school in fiscal years 2008 and 2009 (FY2008/09)	$15,956	$5,500
Left school in fiscal years 2009 and 2010 (FY2009/10)	$17,500	$6,500
Left school in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 (FY2010/11)	$19,125	$7,500
Left school in fiscal years 2011 and 2012 (FY2011/12)	$20,500	$6,568
Left school in fiscal years 2012 and 2013 (FY2012/13)	$22,305	$6,922
Left school in fiscal years 2013 and 2014 (FY2013/14)	$24,364	$8,750
Left school in fiscal years 2014 and 2015 (FY2014/15)	$24,250	$8,900
Left school in fiscal years 2015 and 2016 (FY2015/16)	$23,621	$8,519
Left school in fiscal years 2016 and 2017 (FY2016/17)	$24,250	$8,987
Left school in fiscal years 2017 and 2018 (FY2017/18)	$25,000	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2018 and 2019 (FY2018/19)	$25,000	$10,003
Left school in fiscal years 2019 and 2020 (FY2019/20)	$25,000	$9,500
Left school in fiscal years 2020 and 2021 (FY2020/21)	$25,000	$9,750

NSLDS GRAD_DEBT_MDN / WDRAW_DEBT_MDN, merged FY periods · via College Scorecard

Earnings after entry

Historical student groups

Median annual earnings after entering college, for federally aided students who were working and not enrolled when measured.

Entered: academic years 2013–14 or 2014–15

$48,209

6 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2011–12 or 2012–13

$54,540

8 years after entry

Entered: academic years 2009–10 or 2010–11

$56,662

10 years after entry

Each figure covers a different group of students who entered college in the stated years. Earnings were measured in the same two years; these are not one group followed over time.

Measured in 2020–21, adjusted for inflation to 2022 dollars. Each figure pools two entering academic years.

Treasury Pooled entering cohorts · Scorecard 2020–21 historical file

What does the admissions record show?

Rates and score ranges describe a past admissions cycle. Submitted scores are not cutoffs or a prediction of admission.

Admissions snapshot & test policies

Salem State University admitted 7,625 of 7,953 applicants in Fall 2024. The 95.9% rate describes that application pool.

95.9%

acceptance rate · Fall 2024 admissions cycle

rate trend $11,978 in-state tuition · 2023–24 4,291 undergraduates · Fall 2024

Tests not considered · Fall 2024

Not sure where you stand? Estimate your GPA →

Admissions

In the Fall 2024 cycle, Salem State University received 7,953 applications and admitted 7,625 (95.9%), with 858 enrolling.

Salem State University did not consider scores in the Fall 2024 admissions cycle. No score range is displayed for Salem State University under that historical policy.

Check current requirements with admissions.

Acceptance rate

95.9%Fall 2024Skip to data table

The share of applicants offered a spot — lower means more selective; read it alongside the score ranges below.

Acceptance rate — data
Year	Acceptance rate
Fall 2001	68.2%
Fall 2002	62.8%
Fall 2003	82.6%
Fall 2004	84.8%
Fall 2005	89.6%
Fall 2006	84.2%
Fall 2007	59.8%
Fall 2008	58.4%
Fall 2009	57.8%
Fall 2010	56.7%
Fall 2011	57.4%
Fall 2012	67.1%
Fall 2013	69.3%
Fall 2014	70.6%
Fall 2015	74.9%
Fall 2016	73.6%
Fall 2017	81.9%
Fall 2018	84.7%
Fall 2019	85.6%
Fall 2020	86.8%
Fall 2021	90%
Fall 2022	92.7%
Fall 2023	95.6%
Fall 2024	95.9%

IPEDS Fall cycles 2001–2024

SAT range (section sums, 25th–75th)

990–1160Fall 2023 · submittersSkip to data table

Sums of the reading/writing and math percentiles among enrolled submitters — not percentiles of total SAT scores or admission cutoffs.

SAT range (section sums) — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2001	850	1060
Fall 2002	880	1100
Fall 2003	880	1070
Fall 2004	820	1050
Fall 2005	840	1050
Fall 2006	845	1060
Fall 2007	860	1070
Fall 2008	840	1070
Fall 2009	880	1070
Fall 2010	890	1093
Fall 2011	890	1090
Fall 2012	900	1090
Fall 2013	890	1080
Fall 2014	888	1080
Fall 2016	890	1090
Fall 2017	980	1150
Fall 2018	980	1140
Fall 2019	1010	1160
Fall 2022	986	1210
Fall 2023	990	1160

IPEDS Fall 2001–2023, submitters only

ACT middle 50%

19–23Fall 2019 · submittersSkip to data table

The middle half of enrolled ACT submitters, using published composite-score percentiles — not admission cutoffs.

ACT middle 50% — data
Year	25th	75th
Fall 2002	19	21
Fall 2003	19	22
Fall 2004	18	23
Fall 2005	18	23
Fall 2008	19	23
Fall 2009	15	17
Fall 2010	19	24
Fall 2013	19	24
Fall 2014	19	23
Fall 2016	19	25
Fall 2017	19	25
Fall 2018	20	26
Fall 2019	19	23

IPEDS Fall 2002–2019, submitters only

What is the campus like?

Enrollment counts a campus population; retention follows first-years returning. Their dates and populations are shown separately.

Undergraduate enrollment

4,291Fall 2024Skip to data table

Reported undergraduate enrollment. This count does not measure class size or teaching access.

Undergraduate enrollment at Salem State University fell from 5,661 (Fall 2002) to 4,291 (Fall 2024).

Undergraduate enrollment — data
Year	Undergraduates
Fall 2002	5,661
Fall 2003	5,751
Fall 2004	6,091
Fall 2005	6,687
Fall 2006	6,832
Fall 2007	7,014
Fall 2008	7,082
Fall 2009	7,086
Fall 2010	7,296
Fall 2011	7,136
Fall 2012	7,143
Fall 2013	7,134
Fall 2014	7,180
Fall 2015	7,091
Fall 2016	7,016
Fall 2017	6,776
Fall 2018	6,369
Fall 2019	5,844
Fall 2020	5,293
Fall 2021	5,046
Fall 2022	4,592
Fall 2023	4,286
Fall 2024	4,291

IPEDS Fall headcounts 2002–2024

First-year retention (full-time)

75%Fall 2023 cohortSkip to data table

The share of the reported first-time student group who returned the following year. This rate does not explain why others left.

First-year retention at Salem State University has held near 75% from Fall 2002 to Fall 2023.

First-year retention — data
Year	Retention
Fall 2002 cohort	72%
Fall 2003 cohort	76%
Fall 2004 cohort	75%
Fall 2005 cohort	71%
Fall 2006 cohort	73%
Fall 2007 cohort	71%
Fall 2008 cohort	75%
Fall 2009 cohort	70%
Fall 2010 cohort	73%
Fall 2011 cohort	74%
Fall 2012 cohort	78%
Fall 2013 cohort	81%
Fall 2014 cohort	80%
Fall 2015 cohort	79%
Fall 2016 cohort	77%
Fall 2017 cohort	74%
Fall 2018 cohort	73%
Fall 2019 cohort	74%
Fall 2020 cohort	75%
Fall 2021 cohort	75%
Fall 2022 cohort	74%
Fall 2023 cohort	75%

IPEDS Full-time cohorts 2002–2023

More about Salem State University

35.4% of Salem State University's undergraduates carry Pell grants — the standard federal marker of lower-income enrollment. Carnegie classes Salem State University as a primarily residential campus of 4,291 undergraduates — and 75.3% of the reported first-time, full-time student group returned for a second year.

Salem State University reported not considering test scores in Fall 2024, when its admission rate was 95.9%. Review Salem State University's current requirements before applying; use the GPA calculator for your semester numbers.

Why some charts are marked “key chart”

key chart

Start with three useful questions: what costs were reported for families in your income band, how many first-time full-time students finished, and what federal debt borrowers held when leaving.

How Salem State University compares

State and national medians cover active bachelor-primary institutions, mixing public and private schools. Tuition uses in-state rates at public schools. These are broad reference points, not a ranking of similar schools or your likely bill.

Scorecard dates identify the release snapshot, not a shared measurement year. Earnings describe federally aided students who were working and not enrolled ten years after entry; cohorts and populations differ from the admissions and tuition figures.

Acceptance rate

Fall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS

Salem State University95.9%

Massachusetts median70.3%

National median76.8%

Tuition (in-state)

Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid

Salem State University$12,338

Massachusetts median$46,700

National median$19,591

Median earnings (10 yr)

Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot

Salem State University's snapshot: calendar years and dollar basis unverified.

Salem State University$56,662

Massachusetts median$62,832

National median$53,781

View comparison data & dates

Salem State University, Massachusetts and national reference values
Metric & basis	Salem State University	Massachusetts median	National median
Acceptance rateFall 2024 admissions cycle · IPEDS	95.9%	70.3%	76.8%
Tuition (in-state)Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot · published tuition before aid	$12,338	$46,700	$19,591
Median earnings (10 yr)Ten years after entry · Scorecard 2026-06-10 snapshot	$56,662	$62,832	$53,781

Published earnings by bachelor's field of study

For Salem State University, these are federal subject groups (CIP), not departments. Median is the middle annual income.

Salem State University federal-aid recipients · graduated 2017–18 or 2018–19 · income measured 2022 or 2023 · inflation-adjusted to 2024 dollars. Definitions and limits.

View 23 fields & earnings

Bachelor's field of study (CIP category)	Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing	$95,550
Computer and Information Sciences, General	$92,380
Chemistry	$81,266
Business Administration, Management and Operations	$67,789
Biology, General	$67,551
Mathematics	$61,259
Social Work	$60,026
Criminal Justice and Corrections	$59,774
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences	$59,424
Geography and Cartography	$58,593
Political Science and Government	$58,499
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods	$56,509
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas	$55,808
Health and Medical Administrative Services	$55,323
Psychology, General	$54,717
Sociology	$51,573
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness	$51,362
Fine and Studio Arts	$50,397
Communication and Media Studies	$50,260
History	$49,572
Education, General	$45,568
English Language and Literature, General	$43,621
Visual and Performing Arts, General	$32,484

These 23 fields listed for Salem State University measure earnings after completion. The $56,662 institution-level snapshot above measures earnings after entry; it is not the same cohort or a total for these fields. 35 additional Salem State University fields have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.

Frequently asked questions

What test-score data does Salem State University report?

Salem State University did not consider scores in Fall 2024: 95.9% admitted. Check current requirements.

What is Salem State University's acceptance rate?

95.9% in the Fall 2024 cycle — 7,625 admitted from 7,953 applicants.

How much does Salem State University cost?

In-state tuition is $12,338; out-of-state students pay $19,531. Fees, housing and aid move the real total in both directions.

What earnings data does Salem State University report?

Median earnings ten years after entry: $56,662. Major figures measure four years after completion. Source and date limits.

Similar colleges in Massachusetts

University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth — 90.6% admitted
College of Our Lady of the Elms — 85.3% admitted
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts — 89.7% admitted
Wentworth Institute of Technology — 91.2% admitted

Run your own numbers

Data: IPEDS ADM2024 (Fall 2024 admissions, provisional) · IPEDS HD2024/IC2024 directory · College Scorecard 2026-06-10 release (institution and field-of-study files; earnings from Treasury records). Retrieved 2026-09-01. Chart dates follow this institution's available observations; the release date is not an academic year or an earnings year. Some records end earlier than others. Field-of-study cohort dates are shown with the table. Read the date and population definitions.