USJ vs. Salem State University

Should I go to University of Saint Joseph or Salem State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if USJ 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
University of Saint Joseph vs. Salem State University comparison
University of Saint Joseph Salem State University College 3 College 4
University of Saint Joseph Salem State University
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

USJ Salem State University
Location West Hartford, CT Salem, MA
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 1,992 6,539
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #290 #733
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website usj.edu salemstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

USJ Salem State University
Tuition (In State) $42,050 $910
Tuition (Out of State) $42,050 $7,050
Room & Board $13,240 $14,954
Avg Net Price $25,860 $19,277
Avg Grant Aid $28,311 $8,562
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

USJ Salem State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 1,654 5,093
Admitted 1,238 4,719
Acceptance Rate 74.8% 92.7%
Enrolled % 15.3% 18.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.46 3.17
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Challenging Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range
SAT Range 1070/1275 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

USJ Salem State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 8:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (25%)
  • Psychology (15%)
  • Work and Family Studies (12%)
  • General Studies (11%)
  • Human Services (11%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)

Outcomes

USJ Salem State University
Graduation Rate 56% 42%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $51,200 $44,400
Making Student Loan Payments 60% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $24,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $248

Diversity

USJ Salem State University
% Men 23% 31%
% Women 77% 69%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 54% 68%
% Black 16% 9%
% Hispanic 17% 12%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 0% 3%
% Unknown Race 6% 2%

Students

USJ Salem State University
% In-State 83% 90%
% Out-of-State 16% 8%

Campus

USJ 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 USJ based on total student enrollment (6,539 students vs. 1,992 students)

USJ vs. Salem State University Cost Comparison

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

  • University of Saint Joseph is 4,520.9% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($42,050.00 vs. $910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 496.5% higher at USJ than Salem State University ($42,050.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Salem State University than USJ ($19,277 vs. $25,860)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Saint Joseph are 12.9% lower than costs at Salem State University ($13,240 vs. $14,954)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Saint Joseph than Salem State University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Saint Joseph students is 230.7% larger than aid received Salem State University ($28,311 vs. $8,562)

USJ vs. Salem State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, USJ 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 USJ .

  • Accepted freshman USJ students have a 0.29 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at Salem State University (3.17)
  • Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than USJ (74.8%)

USJ vs. Salem State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, USJ 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 USJ.

  • The graduation rate at USJ is higher than Salem State University (56% vs. 42%)
  • Graduates from University of Saint Joseph earn on average $6,800 more per year than Salem State University graduates after ten years. ($51,200 vs. $44,400)
  • Salem State University students graduate with a $3,000 lower median federal student loan debt than USJ graduates. ($24,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Salem State University graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than USJ graduates. ($248 vs. $279)
  • More Salem State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USJ students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 60%)

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