Bentley vs. Salem State University

Should I go to Bentley University or Salem State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bentley or Salem State University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.
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Bentley University vs. Salem State University comparison
Bentley University Salem State University College 3 College 4
Bentley University Salem State University
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Overview

 Bentley Salem State University
Location Waltham, MA Salem, MA
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 5,165 6,539
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #113 #733
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bentley.edu salemstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Bentley Salem State University
Tuition (In State) $56,500 $910
Tuition (Out of State) $56,500 $7,050
Room & Board $18,660 $14,954
Avg Net Price $44,233 $19,277
Avg Grant Aid $30,733 $8,562
% Receiving Grant Aid 81% 99%

Admission

 Bentley Salem State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 9,662 5,093
Admitted 5,592 4,719
Acceptance Rate 57.9% 92.7%
Enrolled % 20.4% 18.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.75 3.17
Typical High School Grades A- B
Admissions Standards Very High Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 28/32
SAT Range 1258/1420 986/1210
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025 Jun 1, 2025

Academics

 Bentley Salem State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (83%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (12%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (3%)
  • Mathematics (1%)
  • General Studies (1%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)

Outcomes

 Bentley Salem State University
Graduation Rate 88% 42%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $87,200 $44,400
Making Student Loan Payments 92% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,500 $24,000
Median Loan Payment $274 $248

Diversity

 Bentley Salem State University
% Men 59% 31%
% Women 41% 69%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 62% 68%
% Black 3% 9%
% Hispanic 7% 12%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 14% 3%
% Unknown Race 3% 2%

Students

 Bentley Salem State University
% In-State 41% 90%
% Out-of-State 44% 8%

Campus

 Bentley Salem State University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes Yes No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Salem State University is larger than than Bentley based on total student enrollment (6,539 students vs. 5,165 students)

Bentley vs. Salem State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bentley or Salem State University?

  • Bentley University is 6,108.8% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($56,500.00 vs. $910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 701.4% higher at Bentley than Salem State University ($56,500.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Salem State University than Bentley ($19,277 vs. $44,233)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Salem State University are 24.8% lower than costs at Bentley University ($14,954 vs. $18,660)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than Bentley University (99% vs. 81%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bentley University students is 258.9% larger than aid received Salem State University ($30,733 vs. $8,562)

Bentley vs. Salem State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bentley or Salem State University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Salem State University or Bentley .

  • Accepted freshman Bentley students have a 0.58 point higher average high school GPA (3.75) than students at Salem State University (3.17)
  • Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than Bentley (57.9%)

Bentley vs. Salem State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bentley or Salem State University? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Salem State University and Bentley.

  • The graduation rate at Bentley is higher than Salem State University (88% vs. 42%)
  • Graduates from Bentley University earn on average $42,800 more per year than Salem State University graduates after ten years. ($87,200 vs. $44,400)
  • Salem State University students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Bentley graduates. ($24,000 vs. $26,500)
  • Salem State University graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than Bentley graduates. ($248 vs. $274)
  • More Bentley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem State University students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 63%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/