Salem State University vs. CMU

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

Salem State University CMU
Location Salem, MA Mount Pleasant, MI
Setting Large Suburban Distant Town
Enrollment 6,539 14,557
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #733 #715
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website salemstate.edu cmich.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Salem State University CMU
Tuition (In State) $910 $13,200
Tuition (Out of State) $7,050 $13,200
Room & Board $14,954 $11,248
Avg Net Price $19,277 $15,605
Avg Grant Aid $8,562 $11,314
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 96%

Admission

Salem State University CMU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,093 19,888
Admitted 4,719 15,701
Acceptance Rate 92.7% 78.9%
Enrolled % 18.3% 12.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.17 3.47
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 21/27
SAT Range 986/1210 980/1220
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

Salem State University CMU
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Business (24%)
  • Education (16%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

Salem State University CMU
Graduation Rate 42% 54%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,400 $44,500
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $248 $279

Diversity

Salem State University CMU
% Men 31% 40%
% Women 69% 60%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 68% 79%
% Black 9% 8%
% Hispanic 12% 4%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

Salem State University CMU
% In-State 90% 90%
% Out-of-State 8% 9%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Central Michigan University is larger than than Salem State University based on total student enrollment (14,557 students vs. 6,539 students)

Salem State University vs. CMU Cost Comparison

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

  • Central Michigan University is 1,350.5% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($13,200.00 vs. $910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 87.2% higher at CMU than Salem State University ($13,200.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Central Michigan University than Salem State University ($15,605 vs. $19,277)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Central Michigan University are 32.9% lower than costs at Salem State University ($11,248 vs. $14,954)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than Central Michigan University (99% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Central Michigan University students is 32.1% larger than aid received Salem State University ($11,314 vs. $8,562)

Salem State University vs. CMU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Salem State University or CMU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CMU or Salem State University .

  • Accepted freshman CMU students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.47) than students at Salem State University (3.17)
  • Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than CMU (78.9%)

Salem State University vs. CMU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Salem State University or CMU? 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 CMU and Salem State University.

  • The graduation rate at CMU is higher than Salem State University (54% vs. 42%)
  • Graduates from Central Michigan University earn on average $100 more per year than Salem State University graduates after ten years. ($44,500 vs. $44,400)
  • Salem State University students graduate with a $3,000 lower median federal student loan debt than CMU graduates. ($24,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Salem State University graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than CMU graduates. ($248 vs. $279)
  • More Salem State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CMU students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 54%)

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