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Bridgewater State Fitchburg State Framingham State University Westfield State University Middle Tennessee State University WCU Tennessee Austin Peay State University ECU University of Massachusetts-Boston Suffolk University KSU| Salem State University | East Tennessee State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Salem State University | ETSU | ||
| Location | Salem, MA | Johnson City, TN | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 6,239 | 13,586 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #783 | #702 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | salemstate.edu | etsu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Salem State University | ETSU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $910 | $7,950 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $7,050 | $11,790 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,378 | $10,270 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,324 | $16,033 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,241 | $9,228 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 85% |
Admission |
Salem State University | ETSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,852 | 9,903 | ||
| Admitted | 4,637 | 8,622 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 95.6% | 87.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 17.5% | 24.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.17 | 3.33 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/26 | |||
| SAT Range | 990/1160 | 950/1170 | ||
| 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 |
Academics |
Salem State University | ETSU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 18:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Salem State University | ETSU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 42% | 44% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,400 | $40,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 63% | 50% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,000 | $20,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $248 | $211 |
Diversity |
Salem State University | ETSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 5% | 7% | ||
| % Women | 17% | 14% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 68% | 82% | ||
| % Black | 9% | 7% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 2% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
Salem State University | ETSU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 90% | 78% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 8% | 20% | ||
Campus |
Salem State University | ETSU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- East Tennessee State University is larger than than Salem State University based on total student enrollment (13,586 students vs. 6,239 students)
Salem State University vs. ETSU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Salem State University or ETSU?
- East Tennessee State University is 773.6% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($7,950.00 vs. $910.00)
- Out of state tuition is 67.2% higher at ETSU than Salem State University ($11,790.00 vs. $7,050.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at East Tennessee State University than Salem State University ($16,033 vs. $19,324)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at East Tennessee State University are 59.5% lower than costs at Salem State University ($10,270 vs. $16,378)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than East Tennessee State University (98% vs. 85%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by East Tennessee State University students is 12% larger than aid received Salem State University ($9,228 vs. $8,241)
Salem State University vs. ETSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Salem State University or ETSU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between ETSU or Salem State University .
- Accepted freshman ETSU students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.33) than students at Salem State University (3.17)
- Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (95.6%) than ETSU (87.1%)
Salem State University vs. ETSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Salem State University or ETSU? 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 ETSU and Salem State University.
- The graduation rate at ETSU is higher than Salem State University (44% vs. 42%)
- Graduates from Salem State University earn on average $4,400 more per year than ETSU graduates after ten years. ($44,400 vs. $40,000)
- East Tennessee State University students graduate with a $3,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Salem State University graduates. ($20,500 vs. $24,000)
- ETSU graduates are paying $37 less per month on federal student loans than Salem State University graduates. ($211 vs. $248)
- More Salem State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former ETSU students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 50%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/