Salem State University vs. Kean

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

Salem State University Kean
Location Salem, MA Union, NJ
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 6,539 12,884
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #733 #663
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website salemstate.edu kean.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Salem State University Kean
Tuition (In State) $910 $10,758
Tuition (Out of State) $7,050 $18,150
Room & Board $14,954 $14,834
Avg Net Price $19,277 $10,747
Avg Grant Aid $8,562 $13,123
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 97%

Admission

Salem State University Kean
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,093 10,485
Admitted 4,719 8,661
Acceptance Rate 92.7% 82.6%
Enrolled % 18.3% 22.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.17 3.2
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Moderate Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/25
SAT Range 986/1210 900/1160
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 15, 2025

Academics

Salem State University Kean
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Education (19%)
  • Psychology (12%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (6%)
  • Social Sciences (6%)

Outcomes

Salem State University Kean
Graduation Rate 42% 49%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,400 $46,400
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 52%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $248 $258

Diversity

Salem State University Kean
% Men 31% 36%
% Women 69% 64%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 68% 36%
% Black 9% 20%
% Hispanic 12% 27%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 8%

Students

Salem State University Kean
% In-State 90% 92%
% Out-of-State 8% 3%

Campus

Salem State University Kean
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

  • Kean University is larger than than Salem State University based on total student enrollment (12,884 students vs. 6,539 students)

Salem State University vs. Kean Cost Comparison

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

  • Kean University is 1,082.2% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($10,758.00 vs. $910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 157.4% higher at Kean than Salem State University ($18,150.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Kean University than Salem State University ($10,747 vs. $19,277)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Kean University are 0.8% lower than costs at Salem State University ($14,834 vs. $14,954)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than Kean University (99% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Kean University students is 53.3% larger than aid received Salem State University ($13,123 vs. $8,562)

Salem State University vs. Kean Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Kean students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.2) than students at Salem State University (3.17)
  • Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than Kean (82.6%)

Salem State University vs. Kean Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Kean is higher than Salem State University (49% vs. 42%)
  • Graduates from Kean University earn on average $2,000 more per year than Salem State University graduates after ten years. ($46,400 vs. $44,400)
  • Salem State University students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Kean graduates. ($24,000 vs. $25,000)
  • Salem State University graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than Kean graduates. ($248 vs. $258)
  • More Salem State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Kean students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 52%)

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