Salem State University vs. Jackson State University

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

Salem State University Jackson State University
Location Salem, MA Jackson, MS
Setting Large Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 6,539 6,906
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #733 #961
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website salemstate.edu jsums.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Salem State University Jackson State University
Tuition (In State) $910 $8,270
Tuition (Out of State) $7,050 $8,270
Room & Board $14,954 $10,445
Avg Net Price $19,277 $15,292
Avg Grant Aid $8,562 $8,694
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 86%

Admission

Salem State University Jackson State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,093 12,583
Admitted 4,719 11,153
Acceptance Rate 92.7% 88.6%
Enrolled % 18.3% 10.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.17 3.1
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Moderate Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/21
SAT Range 986/1210 1073/1210
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, 2025 Jul 15, 2025

Academics

Salem State University Jackson State 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 (20%)
  • Education (14%)
  • General Studies (12%)
  • Biology (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (6%)

Outcomes

Salem State University Jackson State University
Graduation Rate 42% 40%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,400 $32,800
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 36%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $29,000
Median Loan Payment $248 $299

Diversity

Salem State University Jackson State University
% Men 31% 33%
% Women 69% 67%
Racial Diversity Medium Extremely Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 68% 4%
% Black 9% 92%
% Hispanic 12% 0%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 1%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 0%

Students

Salem State University Jackson State University
% In-State 90% 27%
% Out-of-State 8% 72%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Jackson State University is larger than than Salem State University based on total student enrollment (6,906 students vs. 6,539 students)

Salem State University vs. Jackson State University Cost Comparison

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

  • Jackson State University is 808.8% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($8,270.00 vs. $910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 17.3% higher at Jackson State University than Salem State University ($8,270.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Jackson State University than Salem State University ($15,292 vs. $19,277)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Jackson State University are 43.2% lower than costs at Salem State University ($10,445 vs. $14,954)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than Jackson State University (99% vs. 86%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Jackson State University students is 1.5% larger than aid received Salem State University ($8,694 vs. $8,562)

Salem State University vs. Jackson State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Salem State University students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.17) than students at Jackson State University (3.1)
  • Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than Jackson State University (88.6%)

Salem State University vs. Jackson State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Salem State University or Jackson State 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 Jackson State University and Salem State University.

  • The graduation rate at Salem State University is higher than Jackson State University (42% vs. 40%)
  • Graduates from Salem State University earn on average $11,600 more per year than Jackson State University graduates after ten years. ($44,400 vs. $32,800)
  • Salem State University students graduate with a $5,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Jackson State University graduates. ($24,000 vs. $29,000)
  • Salem State University graduates are paying $51 less per month on federal student loans than Jackson State University graduates. ($248 vs. $299)
  • More Salem State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Jackson State University students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 36%)

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