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Framingham State University Westfield State University University of Massachusetts-Boston Fitchburg State UMass Dartmouth University of Massachusetts-Lowell UMass Curry College Suffolk University KSC Worcester State University University of Southern Maine| Bridgewater State University | Salem State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Bridgewater State | Salem State University | ||
| Location | Bridgewater, MA | Salem, MA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 9,604 | 6,539 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #674 | #733 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | bridgew.edu | salemstate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Bridgewater State | Salem State University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $910 | $910 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $7,050 | $7,050 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,162 | $14,954 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $17,225 | $19,277 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,616 | $8,562 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 82% | 99% |
Admission |
Bridgewater State | Salem State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 8,807 | 5,093 | ||
| Admitted | 7,725 | 4,719 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 87.7% | 92.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 20.3% | 18.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.21 | 3.17 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/25 | |||
| SAT Range | 1030/1210 | 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 | Feb 15, 2025 | Jun 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Bridgewater State | Salem State University | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Bridgewater State | Salem State University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 52% | 42% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $45,700 | $44,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 64% | 63% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,590 | $24,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $254 | $248 |
Diversity |
Bridgewater State | Salem State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 39% | 31% | ||
| % Women | 61% | 69% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 78% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 9% | 9% | ||
| % Hispanic | 6% | 12% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 0% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 2% |
Students |
Bridgewater State | Salem State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 93% | 90% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 7% | 8% | ||
Campus |
Bridgewater State | Salem State University | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Bridgewater State University is larger than than Salem State University based on total student enrollment (9,604 students vs. 6,539 students)
Bridgewater State vs. Salem State University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Bridgewater State or Salem State University?
- Bridgewater State University and Salem State University cost the same to attend based on in-state tuition ($910.00 vs. $910.00)
- Out of state tuition is the same at Bridgewater State as Salem State University ($7,050.00 vs. $7,050.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bridgewater State University than Salem State University ($17,225 vs. $19,277)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bridgewater State University are 5.6% lower than costs at Salem State University ($14,162 vs. $14,954)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than Bridgewater State University (99% vs. 82%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Bridgewater State University students is 0.6% larger than aid received Salem State University ($8,616 vs. $8,562)
Bridgewater State vs. Salem State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Bridgewater State 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 Bridgewater State .
- Accepted freshman Bridgewater State students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.21) than students at Salem State University (3.17)
- Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than Bridgewater State (87.7%)
Bridgewater State vs. Salem State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Bridgewater State 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 Bridgewater State.
- The graduation rate at Bridgewater State is higher than Salem State University (52% vs. 42%)
- Graduates from Bridgewater State University earn on average $1,300 more per year than Salem State University graduates after ten years. ($45,700 vs. $44,400)
- Salem State University students graduate with a $590 lower median federal student loan debt than Bridgewater State graduates. ($24,000 vs. $24,590)
- Salem State University graduates are paying $6 less per month on federal student loans than Bridgewater State graduates. ($248 vs. $254)
- More Bridgewater State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem State University students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 63%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/