IU Northwest vs. Salem State University

Should I go to Indiana University Northwest or Salem State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if IU Northwest 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
Indiana University Northwest vs. Salem State University comparison
Indiana University Northwest Salem State University College 3 College 4
Indiana University Northwest Salem State University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

IU Northwest Salem State University
Location Gary, IN Salem, MA
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 3,045 6,239
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #850 #783
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website iun.edu salemstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

IU Northwest Salem State University
Tuition (In State) $7,492 $910
Tuition (Out of State) $21,356 $7,050
Room & Board $10,244 $16,378
Avg Net Price $5,553 $19,324
Avg Grant Aid $8,153 $8,241
% Receiving Grant Aid 66% 98%

Admission

IU Northwest Salem State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,820 4,852
Admitted 2,163 4,637
Acceptance Rate 76.7% 95.6%
Enrolled % 21.7% 17.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.14 3.17
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Moderate Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/27
SAT Range 940/1170 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, 2026

Academics

IU Northwest Salem State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (33%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
  • Business (13%)
  • Education (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)

Outcomes

IU Northwest Salem State University
Graduation Rate 23% 42%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $39,500 $44,400
Making Student Loan Payments 33% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $25,030 $24,000
Median Loan Payment $258 $248

Diversity

IU Northwest Salem State University
% Men 2% 5%
% Women 6% 17%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 55% 68%
% Black 18% 9%
% Hispanic 20% 12%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 0% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

IU Northwest Salem State University
% In-State 95% 90%
% Out-of-State 5% 8%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Salem State University is larger than than IU Northwest based on total student enrollment (6,239 students vs. 3,045 students)

IU Northwest vs. Salem State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, IU Northwest or Salem State University?

  • Indiana University Northwest is 723.3% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($7,492.00 vs. $910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 202.9% higher at IU Northwest than Salem State University ($21,356.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Indiana University Northwest than Salem State University ($5,553 vs. $19,324)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Indiana University Northwest are 59.9% lower than costs at Salem State University ($10,244 vs. $16,378)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than Indiana University Northwest (98% vs. 66%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Salem State University students is 1.1% larger than aid received Indiana University Northwest ($8,241 vs. $8,153)

IU Northwest vs. Salem State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, IU Northwest 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 IU Northwest .

  • Accepted freshman Salem State University students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.17) than students at IU Northwest (3.14)
  • Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (95.6%) than IU Northwest (76.7%)

IU Northwest vs. Salem State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, IU Northwest 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 IU Northwest.

  • The graduation rate at Salem State University is higher than Indiana University Northwest (42% vs. 23%)
  • Graduates from Salem State University earn on average $4,900 more per year than IU Northwest graduates after ten years. ($44,400 vs. $39,500)
  • Salem State University students graduate with a $1,030 lower median federal student loan debt than IU Northwest graduates. ($24,000 vs. $25,030)
  • Salem State University graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than IU Northwest graduates. ($248 vs. $258)
  • More Salem State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former IU Northwest students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 33%)

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