Salem State University vs. NSU

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

Salem State University NSU
Location Salem, MA Tahlequah, OK
Setting Large Suburban Remote Town
Enrollment 6,239 6,466
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #783 #929
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website salemstate.edu nsuok.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Salem State University NSU
Tuition (In State) $910 $6,623
Tuition (Out of State) $7,050 $15,743
Room & Board $16,378 $10,494
Avg Net Price $19,324 $11,153
Avg Grant Aid $8,241 $7,886
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 83%

Admission

Salem State University NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,852 1,386
Admitted 4,637 1,375
Acceptance Rate 95.6% 99.2%
Enrolled % 17.5% 48.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.17 3.49
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/23
SAT Range 990/1160 920/1145
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 NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 17:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Education (22%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Psychology (9%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (8%)
  • Biology (7%)

Outcomes

Salem State University NSU
Graduation Rate 42% 26%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,400 $40,200
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 48%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $18,000
Median Loan Payment $248 $186

Diversity

Salem State University NSU
% Men 5% 6%
% Women 17% 17%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 68% 50%
% Black 9% 4%
% Hispanic 12% 5%
% Native American 0% 19%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 17%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

Salem State University NSU
% In-State 90% 93%
% Out-of-State 8% 5%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Northeastern State University is larger than than Salem State University based on total student enrollment (6,466 students vs. 6,239 students)

Salem State University vs. NSU Cost Comparison

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

  • Northeastern State University is 627.8% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($6,623.00 vs. $910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 123.3% higher at NSU than Salem State University ($15,743.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northeastern State University than Salem State University ($11,153 vs. $19,324)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northeastern State University are 56.1% lower than costs at Salem State University ($10,494 vs. $16,378)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than Northeastern State University (98% vs. 83%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Salem State University students is 4.5% larger than aid received Northeastern State University ($8,241 vs. $7,886)

Salem State University vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman NSU students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.49) than students at Salem State University (3.17)
  • NSU has a higher acceptance rate (99.2%) than Salem State University (95.6%)

Salem State University vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Salem State University is higher than Northeastern State University (42% vs. 26%)
  • Graduates from Salem State University earn on average $4,200 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($44,400 vs. $40,200)
  • Northeastern State University students graduate with a $6,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Salem State University graduates. ($18,000 vs. $24,000)
  • NSU graduates are paying $62 less per month on federal student loans than Salem State University graduates. ($186 vs. $248)
  • More Salem State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 48%)

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