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Bridgewater State Fitchburg State Framingham State University Westfield State University University of Massachusetts-Boston Suffolk University KSC UMass Dartmouth University of Massachusetts-Lowell Worcester State University Endicott College University of Southern Maine| Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts | Salem State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
MCLA | Salem State University | ||
| Location | North Adams, MA | Salem, MA | ||
| Setting | Distant Town | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 938 | 6,539 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #733 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | mcla.edu | salemstate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
MCLA | Salem State University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $1,030 | $910 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,975 | $7,050 | ||
| Room & Board | $13,632 | $14,954 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $15,377 | $19,277 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $9,044 | $8,562 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 100% | 99% |
Admission |
MCLA | Salem State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 1,456 | 5,093 | ||
| Admitted | 1,346 | 4,719 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 92.4% | 92.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 13.2% | 18.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.2 | 3.17 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Extremely Easy | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 17/21 | |||
| SAT Range | 960/1180 | 986/1210 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jun 1, 2025 |
Academics |
MCLA | Salem State University | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 9:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
MCLA | Salem State University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 53% | 42% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $37,100 | $44,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 63% | 63% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,659 | $24,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $254 | $248 |
Diversity |
MCLA | Salem State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 42% | 31% | ||
| % Women | 58% | 69% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 74% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 9% | 9% | ||
| % Hispanic | 8% | 12% | ||
| % Native American | 1% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 0% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 4% | 2% |
Students |
MCLA | Salem State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 55% | 90% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 45% | 8% | ||
Campus |
MCLA | Salem State University | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Salem State University is larger than than MCLA based on total student enrollment (6,539 students vs. 938 students)
MCLA vs. Salem State University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, MCLA or Salem State University?
- Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts is 13.2% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($1,030.00 vs. $910.00)
- Out of state tuition is 41.5% higher at MCLA than Salem State University ($9,975.00 vs. $7,050.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts than Salem State University ($15,377 vs. $19,277)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts are 9.7% lower than costs at Salem State University ($13,632 vs. $14,954)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts than Salem State University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts students is 5.6% larger than aid received Salem State University ($9,044 vs. $8,562)
MCLA vs. Salem State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, MCLA 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 MCLA .
- Accepted freshman MCLA students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.2) than students at Salem State University (3.17)
- Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than MCLA (92.4%)
MCLA vs. Salem State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, MCLA 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 MCLA.
- The graduation rate at MCLA is higher than Salem State University (53% vs. 42%)
- Graduates from Salem State University earn on average $7,300 more per year than MCLA graduates after ten years. ($44,400 vs. $37,100)
- Salem State University students graduate with a $659 lower median federal student loan debt than MCLA graduates. ($24,000 vs. $24,659)
- Salem State University graduates are paying $6 less per month on federal student loans than MCLA graduates. ($248 vs. $254)
- More MCLA graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem State University students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 63%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/