Salem State University vs. Gwynedd Mercy College

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

Salem State University Gwynedd Mercy College
Location Salem, MA Gwynedd Valley, PA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 6,539 2,091
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #733 #315
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website salemstate.edu gmc.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Salem State University Gwynedd Mercy College
Tuition (In State) $910 $36,052
Tuition (Out of State) $7,050 $36,052
Room & Board $14,954 $13,056
Avg Net Price $19,277 $28,122
Avg Grant Aid $8,562 $24,512
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

Salem State University Gwynedd Mercy College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,093 1,063
Admitted 4,719 621
Acceptance Rate 92.7% 58.4%
Enrolled % 18.3% 24.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.17 3.34
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range
SAT Range 986/1210 1015/1235
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 Aug 20, 2025

Academics

Salem State University Gwynedd Mercy College
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 8:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Health Professions (46%)
  • Business (33%)
  • Education (10%)
  • Biology (2%)
  • Psychology (2%)

Outcomes

Salem State University Gwynedd Mercy College
Graduation Rate 42% 52%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,400 $56,600
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $248 $258

Diversity

Salem State University Gwynedd Mercy College
% Men 31% 27%
% Women 69% 73%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 68% 57%
% Black 9% 23%
% Hispanic 12% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 0%
% International 3% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 10%

Students

Salem State University Gwynedd Mercy College
% In-State 90% 80%
% Out-of-State 8% 20%

Campus

Salem State University Gwynedd Mercy College
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 Gwynedd Mercy College based on total student enrollment (6,539 students vs. 2,091 students)

Salem State University vs. Gwynedd Mercy College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Salem State University or Gwynedd Mercy College?

  • Gwynedd Mercy College is 3,861.8% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($36,052.00 vs. $910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 411.4% higher at Gwynedd Mercy College than Salem State University ($36,052.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Salem State University than Gwynedd Mercy College ($19,277 vs. $28,122)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Gwynedd Mercy College are 14.5% lower than costs at Salem State University ($13,056 vs. $14,954)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Gwynedd Mercy College than Salem State University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Gwynedd Mercy College students is 186.3% larger than aid received Salem State University ($24,512 vs. $8,562)

Salem State University vs. Gwynedd Mercy College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Gwynedd Mercy College students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.34) than students at Salem State University (3.17)
  • Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than Gwynedd Mercy College (58.4%)

Salem State University vs. Gwynedd Mercy College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Salem State University or Gwynedd Mercy College? 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 Gwynedd Mercy College and Salem State University.

  • The graduation rate at Gwynedd Mercy College is higher than Salem State University (52% vs. 42%)
  • Graduates from Gwynedd Mercy College earn on average $12,200 more per year than Salem State University graduates after ten years. ($56,600 vs. $44,400)
  • Salem State University students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Gwynedd Mercy College graduates. ($24,000 vs. $25,000)
  • Salem State University graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than Gwynedd Mercy College graduates. ($248 vs. $258)
  • More Salem State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Gwynedd Mercy College students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 63%)

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