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Bridgewater State Fitchburg State Framingham State University Westfield State University University of Massachusetts-Boston La Salle University Suffolk University KSC UMass Dartmouth University of Massachusetts-Lowell Worcester State University Endicott College| Salem State University | Chestnut Hill College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Salem State University | CHC | ||
| Location | Salem, MA | Philadelphia, PA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 6,239 | 1,402 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #783 | #837 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | Roman Catholic | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | salemstate.edu | chc.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Salem State University | CHC | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $910 | $38,950 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $7,050 | $38,950 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,378 | $12,300 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,324 | $28,583 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,241 | $29,744 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 100% |
Admission |
Salem State University | CHC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,852 | 2,559 | ||
| Admitted | 4,637 | 2,025 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 95.6% | 79.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 17.5% | 8.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.17 | 3.12 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Extremely Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | ||||
| SAT Range | 990/1160 | 900/1090 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jun 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Salem State University | CHC | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 10:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Salem State University | CHC | ||
| Graduation Rate | 42% | 44% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,400 | $45,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 63% | 47% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,000 | $26,481 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $248 | $273 |
Diversity |
Salem State University | CHC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 5% | 7% | ||
| % Women | 17% | 24% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 68% | 40% | ||
| % Black | 9% | 37% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 9% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 5% |
Students |
Salem State University | CHC | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 90% | 73% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 8% | 27% | ||
Campus |
Salem State University | CHC | ||
| 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
- Salem State University is larger than than CHC based on total student enrollment (6,239 students vs. 1,402 students)
Salem State University vs. CHC Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Salem State University or CHC?
- Chestnut Hill College is 4,180.2% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($38,950.00 vs. $910.00)
- Out of state tuition is 452.5% higher at CHC than Salem State University ($38,950.00 vs. $7,050.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Salem State University than CHC ($19,324 vs. $28,583)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Chestnut Hill College are 33.2% lower than costs at Salem State University ($12,300 vs. $16,378)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Chestnut Hill College than Salem State University (100% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Chestnut Hill College students is 260.9% larger than aid received Salem State University ($29,744 vs. $8,241)
Salem State University vs. CHC Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Salem State University or CHC? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between CHC or Salem State University .
- Accepted freshman Salem State University students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.17) than students at CHC (3.12)
- Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (95.6%) than CHC (79.1%)
Salem State University vs. CHC Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Salem State University or CHC? 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 CHC and Salem State University.
- The graduation rate at CHC is higher than Salem State University (44% vs. 42%)
- Graduates from Chestnut Hill College earn on average $900 more per year than Salem State University graduates after ten years. ($45,300 vs. $44,400)
- Salem State University students graduate with a $2,481 lower median federal student loan debt than CHC graduates. ($24,000 vs. $26,481)
- Salem State University graduates are paying $25 less per month on federal student loans than CHC graduates. ($248 vs. $273)
- More Salem State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CHC students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 47%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/