Salem State University vs. Keystone College

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

Salem State University Keystone College
Location Salem, MA La Plume, PA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 6,539 1,131
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #733 #981
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website salemstate.edu keystone.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Salem State University Keystone College
Tuition (In State) $910 $14,950
Tuition (Out of State) $7,050 $14,950
Room & Board $14,954 $11,900
Avg Net Price $19,277 $15,559
Avg Grant Aid $8,562 $15,368
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

Salem State University Keystone College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,093 1,572
Admitted 4,719 1,268
Acceptance Rate 92.7% 80.7%
Enrolled % 18.3% 15.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.17 3.0
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Moderate Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range
SAT Range 986/1210 885/1160
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

Academics

Salem State University Keystone College
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)

Outcomes

Salem State University Keystone College
Graduation Rate 42% 39%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,400 $33,400
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 57%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $248 $268

Diversity

Salem State University Keystone College
% Men 31% 46%
% Women 69% 54%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 68% 77%
% Black 9% 7%
% Hispanic 12% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 3% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 7%

Students

Salem State University Keystone College
% In-State 90% 61%
% Out-of-State 8% 38%

Campus

Salem State University Keystone College
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

  • Salem State University is larger than than Keystone College based on total student enrollment (6,539 students vs. 1,131 students)

Salem State University vs. Keystone College Cost Comparison

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

  • Keystone College is 1,542.9% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($14,950.00 vs. $910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 112.1% higher at Keystone College than Salem State University ($14,950.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Keystone College than Salem State University ($15,559 vs. $19,277)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Keystone College are 25.7% lower than costs at Salem State University ($11,900 vs. $14,954)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Keystone College than Salem State University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Keystone College students is 79.5% larger than aid received Salem State University ($15,368 vs. $8,562)

Salem State University vs. Keystone College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Salem State University students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.17) than students at Keystone College (3.0)
  • Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than Keystone College (80.7%)

Salem State University vs. Keystone College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Salem State University or Keystone 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 Keystone College and Salem State University.

  • The graduation rate at Salem State University is higher than Keystone College (42% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Salem State University earn on average $11,000 more per year than Keystone College graduates after ten years. ($44,400 vs. $33,400)
  • Salem State University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Keystone College graduates. ($24,000 vs. $26,000)
  • Salem State University graduates are paying $20 less per month on federal student loans than Keystone College graduates. ($248 vs. $268)
  • More Salem State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Keystone College students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 57%)

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