Salem State University vs. Longwood University

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

Salem State University Longwood University
Location Salem, MA Farmville, VA
Setting Large Suburban Remote Town
Enrollment 6,539 4,358
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #733 #603
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website salemstate.edu longwood.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Salem State University Longwood University
Tuition (In State) $910 $8,753
Tuition (Out of State) $7,050 $21,690
Room & Board $14,954 $14,318
Avg Net Price $19,277 $21,772
Avg Grant Aid $8,562 $10,332
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 95%

Admission

Salem State University Longwood University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,093 6,042
Admitted 4,719 5,304
Acceptance Rate 92.7% 87.8%
Enrolled % 18.3% 15%
Avg High School GPA 3.17 3.59
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 20/26
SAT Range 986/1210 1020/1210
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

Academics

Salem State University Longwood University
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Business (20%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (18%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (7%)
  • Communication (7%)

Outcomes

Salem State University Longwood University
Graduation Rate 42% 60%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,400 $43,200
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 77%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $25,000
Median Loan Payment $248 $258

Diversity

Salem State University Longwood University
% Men 31% 30%
% Women 69% 70%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 68% 75%
% Black 9% 9%
% Hispanic 12% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 4%

Students

Salem State University Longwood University
% In-State 90% 92%
% Out-of-State 8% 5%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Salem State University is larger than than Longwood University based on total student enrollment (6,539 students vs. 4,358 students)

Salem State University vs. Longwood University Cost Comparison

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

  • Longwood University is 861.9% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($8,753.00 vs. $910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 207.7% higher at Longwood University than Salem State University ($21,690.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Salem State University than Longwood University ($19,277 vs. $21,772)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Longwood University are 4.4% lower than costs at Salem State University ($14,318 vs. $14,954)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than Longwood University (99% vs. 95%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Longwood University students is 20.7% larger than aid received Salem State University ($10,332 vs. $8,562)

Salem State University vs. Longwood University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Longwood University students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (3.59) than students at Salem State University (3.17)
  • Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than Longwood University (87.8%)

Salem State University vs. Longwood University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Longwood University is higher than Salem State University (60% vs. 42%)
  • Graduates from Salem State University earn on average $1,200 more per year than Longwood University graduates after ten years. ($44,400 vs. $43,200)
  • Salem State University students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Longwood University graduates. ($24,000 vs. $25,000)
  • Salem State University graduates are paying $10 less per month on federal student loans than Longwood University graduates. ($248 vs. $258)
  • More Longwood University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem State University students, three years after graduation. (77% vs. 63%)

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