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Bridgewater State Fitchburg State Framingham State University Westfield State University University of Massachusetts-Boston Suffolk University KSC UMass Dartmouth University of Massachusetts-Lowell Worcester State University Endicott College University of Southern Maine| Salem State University | Penn State Wilkes Barre | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Salem State University | Penn State Wilkes-Barre | ||
| Location | Salem, MA | Lehman, PA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 6,539 | 368 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #733 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | salemstate.edu | psu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Salem State University | Penn State Wilkes-Barre | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $910 | $13,824 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $7,050 | $23,086 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,954 | $12,984 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,277 | $16,728 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,562 | $10,598 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 94% |
Admission |
Salem State University | Penn State Wilkes-Barre | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 5,093 | 653 | ||
| Admitted | 4,719 | 622 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 92.7% | 95.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.3% | 20.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.17 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | ||||
| SAT Range | 986/1210 | 1070/1260 | ||
| 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 | Penn State Wilkes-Barre | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 10:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Salem State University | Penn State Wilkes-Barre | ||
| Graduation Rate | 42% | 47% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,400 | $55,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 63% | 69% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,000 | $26,818 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $248 | $277 |
Diversity |
Salem State University | Penn State Wilkes-Barre | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 31% | 64% | ||
| % Women | 69% | 36% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 68% | 88% | ||
| % Black | 9% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 2% | ||
| % International | 3% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
Salem State University | Penn State Wilkes-Barre | ||
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| % In-State | 90% | 83% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 8% | 17% | ||
Campus |
Salem State University | Penn State Wilkes-Barre | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | No | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | No | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Salem State University is larger than than Penn State Wilkes-Barre based on total student enrollment (6,539 students vs. 368 students)
Salem State University vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Salem State University or Penn State Wilkes-Barre?
- Penn State Wilkes Barre is 1,419.1% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($13,824.00 vs. $910.00)
- Out of state tuition is 227.5% higher at Penn State Wilkes-Barre than Salem State University ($23,086.00 vs. $7,050.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Wilkes Barre than Salem State University ($16,728 vs. $19,277)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Wilkes Barre are 15.2% lower than costs at Salem State University ($12,984 vs. $14,954)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than Penn State Wilkes Barre (99% vs. 94%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Wilkes Barre students is 23.8% larger than aid received Salem State University ($10,598 vs. $8,562)
Salem State University vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Salem State University or Penn State Wilkes-Barre? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Penn State Wilkes-Barre or Salem State University .
- Penn State Wilkes-Barre has a higher acceptance rate (95.3%) than Salem State University (92.7%)
Salem State University vs. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Salem State University or Penn State Wilkes-Barre? 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 Penn State Wilkes-Barre and Salem State University.
- The graduation rate at Penn State Wilkes-Barre is higher than Salem State University (47% vs. 42%)
- Graduates from Penn State Wilkes Barre earn on average $10,900 more per year than Salem State University graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $44,400)
- Salem State University students graduate with a $2,818 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates. ($24,000 vs. $26,818)
- Salem State University graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates. ($248 vs. $277)
- More Penn State Wilkes-Barre graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem State University students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 63%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/