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Sacramento State San Francisco State Humboldt State University San Jose State UC Merced Cal State Fullerton Sonoma State University California State University-Fresno Bridgewater State Fitchburg State Cal State East Bay UC Davis| California State University Chico | Salem State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
CSU | Salem State University | ||
| Location | Chico, CA | Salem, MA | ||
| Setting | Small City | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 14,523 | 6,239 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #660 | #783 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | csuchico.edu | salemstate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
CSU | Salem State University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $5,742 | $910 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $17,622 | $7,050 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,020 | $16,378 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $15,187 | $19,324 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $10,331 | $8,241 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 65% | 98% |
Admission |
CSU | Salem State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 22,263 | 4,852 | ||
| Admitted | 20,864 | 4,637 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 93.7% | 95.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 10.4% | 17.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.37 | 3.17 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/24 | |||
| SAT Range | 970/1170 | 990/1160 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Dec 15, 2025 | Jun 1, 2026 |
Academics |
CSU | Salem State University | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 20:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
CSU | Salem State University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 59% | 42% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $52,400 | $44,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 70% | 63% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $17,000 | $24,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $175 | $248 |
Diversity |
CSU | Salem State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 3% | 5% | ||
| % Women | 6% | 17% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Very High | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 46% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 2% | 9% | ||
| % Hispanic | 29% | 12% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 5% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 7% | 2% |
Students |
CSU | Salem State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 97% | 90% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 2% | 8% | ||
Campus |
CSU | 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
- California State University Chico is larger than than Salem State University based on total student enrollment (14,523 students vs. 6,239 students)
CSU vs. Salem State University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, CSU or Salem State University?
- California State University Chico is 531% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($5,742.00 vs. $910.00)
- Out of state tuition is 150% higher at CSU than Salem State University ($17,622.00 vs. $7,050.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at California State University Chico than Salem State University ($15,187 vs. $19,324)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at California State University Chico are 2.2% lower than costs at Salem State University ($16,020 vs. $16,378)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than California State University Chico (98% vs. 65%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by California State University Chico students is 25.4% larger than aid received Salem State University ($10,331 vs. $8,241)
CSU vs. Salem State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, CSU 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 CSU .
- Accepted freshman CSU students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at Salem State University (3.17)
- Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (95.6%) than CSU (93.7%)
CSU vs. Salem State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, CSU 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 CSU.
- The graduation rate at CSU is higher than Salem State University (59% vs. 42%)
- Graduates from California State University Chico earn on average $8,000 more per year than Salem State University graduates after ten years. ($52,400 vs. $44,400)
- California State University Chico students graduate with a $7,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Salem State University graduates. ($17,000 vs. $24,000)
- CSU graduates are paying $73 less per month on federal student loans than Salem State University graduates. ($175 vs. $248)
- More CSU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem State University students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 63%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/