GSU- Grambling vs. Salem State University

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

GSU- Grambling Salem State University
Location Grambling, LA Salem, MA
Setting Rural Fringe Large Suburban
Enrollment 5,114 6,239
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #1009 #783
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website gram.edu salemstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

GSU- Grambling Salem State University
Tuition (In State) $5,140 $910
Tuition (Out of State) $5,140 $7,050
Room & Board $10,990 $16,378
Avg Net Price $19,092 $19,324
Avg Grant Aid $8,763 $8,241
% Receiving Grant Aid 93% 98%

Admission

GSU- Grambling Salem State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 24,521 4,852
Admitted 5,806 4,637
Acceptance Rate 23.7% 95.6%
Enrolled % 15.8% 17.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.01 3.17
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition Very High
ACT Range 15/19
SAT Range 860/1150 990/1160
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

GSU- Grambling Salem State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 25:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (22%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (15%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (8%)
  • Biology (7%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)

Outcomes

GSU- Grambling Salem State University
Graduation Rate 27% 42%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $32,400 $44,400
Making Student Loan Payments 23% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $37,997 $24,000
Median Loan Payment $392 $248

Diversity

GSU- Grambling Salem State University
% Men 4% 5%
% Women 12% 17%
Racial Diversity Extremely Low Medium
HBCU Yes No
% White 1% 68%
% Black 91% 9%
% Hispanic 1% 12%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 4% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

GSU- Grambling Salem State University
% In-State 60% 90%
% Out-of-State 39% 8%

Campus

GSU- Grambling 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 GSU- Grambling based on total student enrollment (6,239 students vs. 5,114 students)

GSU- Grambling vs. Salem State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, GSU- Grambling or Salem State University?

  • Grambling State University is 464.8% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($5,140.00 vs. $910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 37.2% higher at Salem State University than Grambling State University ($7,050.00 vs. $5,140.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Grambling State University than Salem State University ($19,092 vs. $19,324)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Grambling State University are 49% lower than costs at Salem State University ($10,990 vs. $16,378)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than Grambling State University (98% vs. 93%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Grambling State University students is 6.3% larger than aid received Salem State University ($8,763 vs. $8,241)

GSU- Grambling vs. Salem State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, GSU- Grambling 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 GSU- Grambling .

  • Accepted freshman Salem State University students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.17) than students at GSU- Grambling (3.01)
  • Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (95.6%) than GSU- Grambling (23.7%)

GSU- Grambling vs. Salem State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, GSU- Grambling 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 GSU- Grambling.

  • The graduation rate at Salem State University is higher than Grambling State University (42% vs. 27%)
  • Graduates from Salem State University earn on average $12,000 more per year than GSU- Grambling graduates after ten years. ($44,400 vs. $32,400)
  • Salem State University students graduate with a $13,997 lower median federal student loan debt than GSU- Grambling graduates. ($24,000 vs. $37,997)
  • Salem State University graduates are paying $144 less per month on federal student loans than GSU- Grambling graduates. ($248 vs. $392)
  • More Salem State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former GSU- Grambling students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 23%)

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