Salem State University vs. EC

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

Salem State University EC
Location Salem, MA Elmira, NY
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 6,539 657
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #733
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website salemstate.edu elmira.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Salem State University EC
Tuition (In State) $910 $35,270
Tuition (Out of State) $7,050 $35,270
Room & Board $14,954 $13,388
Avg Net Price $19,277 $24,040
Avg Grant Aid $8,562 $27,091
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

Salem State University EC
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,093 1,456
Admitted 4,719 1,397
Acceptance Rate 92.7% 95.9%
Enrolled % 18.3% 12.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.17 3.22
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Moderate Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range
SAT Range 986/1210 1118/1272
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 EC
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 7:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Education (18%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Social Sciences (12%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Psychology (7%)

Outcomes

Salem State University EC
Graduation Rate 42% 60%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,400 $46,000
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 72%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $248 $279

Diversity

Salem State University EC
% Men 31% 34%
% Women 69% 66%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 68% 80%
% Black 9% 4%
% Hispanic 12% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 3% 5%
% Unknown Race 2% 4%

Students

Salem State University EC
% In-State 90% 60%
% Out-of-State 8% 29%

Campus

Salem State University EC
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 EC based on total student enrollment (6,539 students vs. 657 students)

Salem State University vs. EC Cost Comparison

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

  • Elmira College is 3,775.8% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($35,270.00 vs. $910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 400.3% higher at EC than Salem State University ($35,270.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Salem State University than EC ($19,277 vs. $24,040)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Elmira College are 11.7% lower than costs at Salem State University ($13,388 vs. $14,954)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Elmira College than Salem State University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Elmira College students is 216.4% larger than aid received Salem State University ($27,091 vs. $8,562)

Salem State University vs. EC Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman EC students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.22) than students at Salem State University (3.17)
  • EC has a higher acceptance rate (95.9%) than Salem State University (92.7%)

Salem State University vs. EC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at EC is higher than Salem State University (60% vs. 42%)
  • Graduates from Elmira College earn on average $1,600 more per year than Salem State University graduates after ten years. ($46,000 vs. $44,400)
  • Salem State University students graduate with a $3,000 lower median federal student loan debt than EC graduates. ($24,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Salem State University graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than EC graduates. ($248 vs. $279)
  • More EC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem State University students, three years after graduation. (72% vs. 63%)

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