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Bridgewater State Framingham State University Westfield State University University of Massachusetts-Boston Worcester State University Suffolk University KSC UMass Dartmouth University of Massachusetts-Lowell Endicott College University of Southern Maine CCSU| Fitchburg State University | Salem State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Fitchburg State | Salem State University | ||
| Location | Fitchburg, MA | Salem, MA | ||
| Setting | Midsize Suburban | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 6,554 | 6,539 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #549 | #733 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | fitchburgstate.edu | salemstate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Fitchburg State | Salem State University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $970 | $910 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $7,050 | $7,050 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,516 | $14,954 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $15,535 | $19,277 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $7,093 | $8,562 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 76% | 99% |
Admission |
Fitchburg State | Salem State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 3,084 | 5,093 | ||
| Admitted | 2,654 | 4,719 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 86.1% | 92.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.3% | 18.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.29 | 3.17 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Average | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 22/28 | |||
| SAT Range | 1020/1220 | 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 | Jun 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Fitchburg State | Salem State University | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Fitchburg State | Salem State University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 47% | 42% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,000 | $44,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 65% | 63% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,685 | $24,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $234 | $248 |
Diversity |
Fitchburg State | Salem State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 38% | 31% | ||
| % Women | 62% | 69% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 73% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 9% | 9% | ||
| % Hispanic | 11% | 12% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 1% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 1% | 2% |
Students |
Fitchburg State | Salem State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 90% | 90% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 10% | 8% | ||
Campus |
Fitchburg State | 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
- Fitchburg State University is larger than than Salem State University based on total student enrollment (6,554 students vs. 6,539 students)
Fitchburg State vs. Salem State University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Fitchburg State or Salem State University?
- Fitchburg State University is 6.6% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($970.00 vs. $910.00)
- Out of state tuition is the same at Fitchburg 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 Fitchburg State University than Salem State University ($15,535 vs. $19,277)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fitchburg State University are 10.6% lower than costs at Salem State University ($13,516 vs. $14,954)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than Fitchburg State University (99% vs. 76%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Salem State University students is 20.7% larger than aid received Fitchburg State University ($8,562 vs. $7,093)
Fitchburg State vs. Salem State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Fitchburg 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 Fitchburg State .
- Accepted freshman Fitchburg State students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.29) than students at Salem State University (3.17)
- Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than Fitchburg State (86.1%)
Fitchburg State vs. Salem State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Fitchburg 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 Fitchburg State.
- The graduation rate at Fitchburg State is higher than Salem State University (47% vs. 42%)
- Graduates from Salem State University earn on average $400 more per year than Fitchburg State graduates after ten years. ($44,400 vs. $44,000)
- Fitchburg State University students graduate with a $1,315 lower median federal student loan debt than Salem State University graduates. ($22,685 vs. $24,000)
- Fitchburg State graduates are paying $14 less per month on federal student loans than Salem State University graduates. ($234 vs. $248)
- More Fitchburg State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem State University students, three years after graduation. (65% vs. 63%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/