Nichols vs. Salem State University

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

Nichols Salem State University
Location Dudley, MA Salem, MA
Setting Rural Fringe Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,354 6,239
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #905 #783
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website nichols.edu salemstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Nichols Salem State University
Tuition (In State) $38,825 $910
Tuition (Out of State) $38,825 $7,050
Room & Board $14,950 $16,378
Avg Net Price $31,032 $19,324
Avg Grant Aid $24,720 $8,241
% Receiving Grant Aid 95% 98%

Admission

Nichols Salem State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 2,117 4,852
Admitted 1,866 4,637
Acceptance Rate 88.1%Open 95.6%
Enrolled % 17.8%Open 17.5%
Avg High School GPA 2.9 3.17
Typical High School Grades B- B
Admissions Standards Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range
SAT Range 1000/1190 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

Nichols Salem State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 15:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (75%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (12%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)
  • Psychology (3%)
  • Education (2%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)

Outcomes

Nichols Salem State University
Graduation Rate 43% 42%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,800 $44,400
Making Student Loan Payments 68% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $24,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $248

Diversity

Nichols Salem State University
% Men 8% 5%
% Women 7% 17%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 81% 68%
% Black 7% 9%
% Hispanic 6% 12%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 3%
% International 1% 3%
% Unknown Race 0% 2%

Students

Nichols Salem State University
% In-State 51% 90%
% Out-of-State 46% 8%

Campus

Nichols 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 Nichols based on total student enrollment (6,239 students vs. 1,354 students)

Nichols vs. Salem State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Nichols or Salem State University?

  • Nichols College is 4,166.5% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($38,825.00 vs. $910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 450.7% higher at Nichols than Salem State University ($38,825.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Salem State University than Nichols ($19,324 vs. $31,032)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Nichols College are 9.6% lower than costs at Salem State University ($14,950 vs. $16,378)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than Nichols College (98% vs. 95%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Nichols College students is 200% larger than aid received Salem State University ($24,720 vs. $8,241)

Nichols vs. Salem State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Nichols 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 Nichols .

  • Accepted freshman Salem State University students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.17) than students at Nichols (2.9)
  • Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (95.6%) than Nichols (88.1%)

Nichols vs. Salem State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Nichols 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 Nichols.

  • The graduation rate at Nichols is higher than Salem State University (43% vs. 42%)
  • Graduates from Nichols College earn on average $7,400 more per year than Salem State University graduates after ten years. ($51,800 vs. $44,400)
  • Salem State University students graduate with a $3,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Nichols graduates. ($24,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Salem State University graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than Nichols graduates. ($248 vs. $279)
  • More Nichols graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem State University students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 63%)

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