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Bridgewater State Fitchburg State Framingham State University Westfield State University Lehman Monroe College-Main Campus University of Massachusetts-Boston Suffolk University College of Mount Saint Vincent KSC UMass Dartmouth Manhattanville College| Salem State University | Mercy College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Salem State University | Mercy | ||
| Location | Salem, MA | Dobbs Ferry, NY | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 6,539 | 8,615 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #733 | #843 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | salemstate.edu | mercy.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Salem State University | Mercy | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $910 | $20,518 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $7,050 | $20,518 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,954 | $14,200 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,277 | $15,879 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,562 | $14,789 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 97% |
Admission |
Salem State University | Mercy | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 5,093 | 7,891 | ||
| Admitted | 4,719 | 6,775 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 92.7% | 85.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.3% | 13.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.17 | 3.19 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/25 | |||
| SAT Range | 986/1210 | 1020/1230 | ||
| 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 | Mercy | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Salem State University | Mercy | ||
| Graduation Rate | 42% | 31% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,400 | $42,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 63% | 40% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,000 | $23,699 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $248 | $245 |
Diversity |
Salem State University | Mercy | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 31% | 28% | ||
| % Women | 69% | 72% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 68% | 27% | ||
| % Black | 9% | 23% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 35% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 7% |
Students |
Salem State University | Mercy | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 90% | 88% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 8% | 9% | ||
Campus |
Salem State University | Mercy | ||
| 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
- Mercy College is larger than than Salem State University based on total student enrollment (8,615 students vs. 6,539 students)
Salem State University vs. Mercy Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Salem State University or Mercy?
- Mercy College is 2,154.7% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($20,518.00 vs. $910.00)
- Out of state tuition is 191% higher at Mercy than Salem State University ($20,518.00 vs. $7,050.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Mercy College than Salem State University ($15,879 vs. $19,277)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Mercy College are 5.3% lower than costs at Salem State University ($14,200 vs. $14,954)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than Mercy College (99% vs. 97%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Mercy College students is 72.7% larger than aid received Salem State University ($14,789 vs. $8,562)
Salem State University vs. Mercy Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Salem State University or Mercy? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Mercy or Salem State University .
- Accepted freshman Mercy students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.19) than students at Salem State University (3.17)
- Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than Mercy (85.9%)
Salem State University vs. Mercy Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Salem State University or Mercy? 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 Mercy and Salem State University.
- The graduation rate at Salem State University is higher than Mercy College (42% vs. 31%)
- Graduates from Salem State University earn on average $2,200 more per year than Mercy graduates after ten years. ($44,400 vs. $42,200)
- Mercy College students graduate with a $301 lower median federal student loan debt than Salem State University graduates. ($23,699 vs. $24,000)
- Mercy graduates are paying $3 less per month on federal student loans than Salem State University graduates. ($245 vs. $248)
- More Salem State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Mercy students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 40%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/