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Bridgewater State Indiana University of Pennsylvania-Main Campus Fitchburg State Framingham State University Westfield State University PennWest Clarion Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania University of Massachusetts-Boston Suffolk University KSC UMass Dartmouth University of Massachusetts-Lowell| Salem State University | PennWest California | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Salem State University | PennWest California | ||
| Location | Salem, MA | California, PA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Town Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 6,239 | 6,509 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #783 | #1038 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | salemstate.edu | calu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Salem State University | PennWest California | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $910 | $7,716 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $7,050 | $11,574 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,378 | $10,416 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,324 | - | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,241 | $0 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 0% |
Admission |
Salem State University | PennWest California | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,852 | - | ||
| Admitted | 4,637 | - | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 95.6% | |||
| Enrolled % | 17.5% | |||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.17 | 3.31 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/24 | |||
| SAT Range | 990/1160 | 940/1150 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | |||
| Application Deadline | Jun 1, 2026 | Aug 22, 2026 |
Academics |
Salem State University | PennWest California | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 19:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Salem State University | PennWest California | ||
| Graduation Rate | 42% | 53% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,400 | $42,500 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 63% | 64% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,000 | $25,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $248 | $258 |
Diversity |
Salem State University | PennWest California | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 5% | 39% | ||
| % Women | 17% | 61% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 68% | 77% | ||
| % Black | 9% | 12% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 3% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 2% |
Students |
Salem State University | PennWest California | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 90% | 86% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 8% | 13% | ||
Campus |
Salem State University | PennWest California | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | Yes | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- PennWest California is larger than than Salem State University based on total student enrollment (6,509 students vs. 6,239 students)
Salem State University vs. PennWest California Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Salem State University or PennWest California?
- PennWest California is 747.9% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($7,716.00 vs. $910.00)
- Out of state tuition is 64.2% higher at PennWest California than Salem State University ($11,574.00 vs. $7,050.00)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at PennWest California are 57.2% lower than costs at Salem State University ($10,416 vs. $16,378)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than PennWest California (98% vs. 0%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Salem State University students is ?% larger than aid received PennWest California ($8,241 vs. $0)
Which college is harder to get into, Salem State University or PennWest California? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PennWest California or Salem State University .
- Accepted freshman PennWest California students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at Salem State University (3.17)
Salem State University vs. PennWest California Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Salem State University or PennWest California? 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 PennWest California and Salem State University.
- The graduation rate at PennWest California is higher than Salem State University (53% vs. 42%)
- Graduates from Salem State University earn on average $1,900 more per year than PennWest California graduates after ten years. ($44,400 vs. $42,500)
- Salem State University students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than PennWest California graduates. ($24,000 vs. $25,000)
- Salem State University graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than PennWest California graduates. ($248 vs. $258)
- More PennWest California graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem State University students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 63%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/