Salem State University vs. York

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

Salem State University York
Location Salem, MA Jamaica, NY
Setting Large Suburban Large City
Enrollment 6,239 6,161
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #783 #602
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website salemstate.edu cuny.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Salem State University York
Tuition (In State) $910 $6,930
Tuition (Out of State) $7,050 $14,880
Room & Board $16,378 $21,788
Avg Net Price $19,324 $5,631
Avg Grant Aid $8,241 $7,896
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 86%

Admission

Salem State University York
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,852 14,236
Admitted 4,637 8,459
Acceptance Rate 95.6% 59.4%
Enrolled % 17.5% 8.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.17 3.15
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Very Easy Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range
SAT Range 990/1160 990/1210
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, 2026 Feb 1, 2026

Academics

Salem State University York
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Business (26%)
  • Health Professions (18%)
  • Psychology (16%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)
  • Human Services (6%)

Outcomes

Salem State University York
Graduation Rate 42% 20%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,400 $43,200
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 47%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $8,800
Median Loan Payment $248 $90

Diversity

Salem State University York
% Men 5% 1%
% Women 17% 3%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 68% 6%
% Black 9% 39%
% Hispanic 12% 24%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 1%
% Two or More Races 3% 1%
% International 3% 5%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

Salem State University York
% In-State 90% 84%
% Out-of-State 8% 0%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Salem State University is larger than than York based on total student enrollment (6,239 students vs. 6,161 students)

Salem State University vs. York Cost Comparison

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

  • CUNY York College is 661.5% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($6,930.00 vs. $910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 111.1% higher at York than Salem State University ($14,880.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at CUNY York College than Salem State University ($5,631 vs. $19,324)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Salem State University are 33% lower than costs at CUNY York College ($16,378 vs. $21,788)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than CUNY York College (98% vs. 86%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Salem State University students is 4.4% larger than aid received CUNY York College ($8,241 vs. $7,896)

Salem State University vs. York Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Salem State University students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.17) than students at York (3.15)
  • Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (95.6%) than York (59.4%)

Salem State University vs. York Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Salem State University is higher than CUNY York College (42% vs. 20%)
  • Graduates from Salem State University earn on average $1,200 more per year than York graduates after ten years. ($44,400 vs. $43,200)
  • CUNY York College students graduate with a $15,200 lower median federal student loan debt than Salem State University graduates. ($8,800 vs. $24,000)
  • York graduates are paying $158 less per month on federal student loans than Salem State University graduates. ($90 vs. $248)
  • More Salem State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former York 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/