Salem State University vs. Eastern University

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

Salem State University Eastern University
Location Salem, MA Saint Davids, PA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 6,539 5,769
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #733 #680
Religious Affiliation - American Baptist - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website salemstate.edu eastern.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Salem State University Eastern University
Tuition (In State) $910 $35,864
Tuition (Out of State) $7,050 $35,864
Room & Board $14,954 $12,424
Avg Net Price $19,277 $26,669
Avg Grant Aid $8,562 $25,542
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

Salem State University Eastern University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,093 2,994
Admitted 4,719 1,893
Acceptance Rate 92.7% 63.2%
Enrolled % 18.3% 24.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.17 3.58
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/24
SAT Range 986/1210 1010/1190
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, 2025

Academics

Salem State University Eastern University
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Business (24%)
  • Education (17%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (16%)
  • Health Professions (9%)
  • Theology and Religious Vvocations (8%)

Outcomes

Salem State University Eastern University
Graduation Rate 42% 67%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,400 $45,900
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 58%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $26,500
Median Loan Payment $248 $274

Diversity

Salem State University Eastern University
% Men 31% 41%
% Women 69% 59%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 68% 50%
% Black 9% 23%
% Hispanic 12% 17%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 1%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 5%

Students

Salem State University Eastern University
% In-State 90% 62%
% Out-of-State 8% 38%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Salem State University is larger than than Eastern University based on total student enrollment (6,539 students vs. 5,769 students)

Salem State University vs. Eastern University Cost Comparison

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

  • Eastern University is 3,841.1% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($35,864.00 vs. $910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 408.7% higher at Eastern University than Salem State University ($35,864.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Salem State University than Eastern University ($19,277 vs. $26,669)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Eastern University are 20.4% lower than costs at Salem State University ($12,424 vs. $14,954)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Eastern University than Salem State University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Eastern University students is 198.3% larger than aid received Salem State University ($25,542 vs. $8,562)

Salem State University vs. Eastern University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Eastern University students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.58) than students at Salem State University (3.17)
  • Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than Eastern University (63.2%)

Salem State University vs. Eastern University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Eastern University is higher than Salem State University (67% vs. 42%)
  • Graduates from Eastern University earn on average $1,500 more per year than Salem State University graduates after ten years. ($45,900 vs. $44,400)
  • Salem State University students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Eastern University graduates. ($24,000 vs. $26,500)
  • Salem State University graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than Eastern University graduates. ($248 vs. $274)
  • More Salem State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Eastern University students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 58%)

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