Holy Cross vs. Salem State University

Should I go to College of the Holy Cross or Salem State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Holy Cross 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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College of the Holy Cross vs. Salem State University comparison
College of the Holy Cross Salem State University College 3 College 4
College of the Holy Cross Salem State University
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Overview

 Holy Cross Salem State University
Location Worcester, MA Salem, MA
Setting Midsize City Large Suburban
Enrollment 3,083 6,539
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #86 #733
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website holycross.edu salemstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

 Holy Cross Salem State University
Tuition (In State) $57,600 $910
Tuition (Out of State) $57,600 $7,050
Room & Board $16,620 $14,954
Avg Net Price $34,679 $19,277
Avg Grant Aid $39,615 $8,562
% Receiving Grant Aid 60% 99%

Admission

 Holy Cross Salem State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,036 5,093
Admitted 2,558 4,719
Acceptance Rate 36.4% 92.7%
Enrolled % 35.3% 18.3%
Avg High School GPA - 3.17
Typical High School Grades - B
Admissions Standards Very High Moderate
Applicant Competition High
ACT Range 28/32
SAT Range 1260/1430 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

 Holy Cross Salem State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (33%)
  • Psychology (11%)
  • English and Literature (11%)
  • Foreign Languages (9%)
  • History (8%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)

Outcomes

 Holy Cross Salem State University
Graduation Rate 91% 42%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $80,400 $44,400
Making Student Loan Payments 87% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,500 $24,000
Median Loan Payment $284 $248

Diversity

 Holy Cross Salem State University
% Men 45% 31%
% Women 55% 69%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 70% 68%
% Black 4% 9%
% Hispanic 10% 12%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 2% 3%
% Unknown Race 5% 2%

Students

 Holy Cross Salem State University
% In-State 35% 90%
% Out-of-State 61% 8%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Salem State University is larger than than Holy Cross based on total student enrollment (6,539 students vs. 3,083 students)

Holy Cross vs. Salem State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Holy Cross or Salem State University?

  • College of the Holy Cross is 6,229.7% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($57,600.00 vs. $910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 717% higher at Holy Cross than Salem State University ($57,600.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Salem State University than Holy Cross ($19,277 vs. $34,679)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Salem State University are 11.1% lower than costs at College of the Holy Cross ($14,954 vs. $16,620)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than College of the Holy Cross (99% vs. 60%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Holy Cross students is 362.7% larger than aid received Salem State University ($39,615 vs. $8,562)

Holy Cross vs. Salem State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Holy Cross 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 Holy Cross .

  • Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than Holy Cross (36.4%)

Holy Cross vs. Salem State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Holy Cross 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 Holy Cross.

  • The graduation rate at Holy Cross is higher than Salem State University (91% vs. 42%)
  • Graduates from College of the Holy Cross earn on average $36,000 more per year than Salem State University graduates after ten years. ($80,400 vs. $44,400)
  • Salem State University students graduate with a $3,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Holy Cross graduates. ($24,000 vs. $27,500)
  • Salem State University graduates are paying $36 less per month on federal student loans than Holy Cross graduates. ($248 vs. $284)
  • More Holy Cross graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem State University students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 63%)

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