Salem State University vs. Peru State College

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

Salem State University Peru State College
Location Salem, MA Peru, NE
Setting Large Suburban Distant Rural
Enrollment 6,539 1,799
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #733
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website salemstate.edu peru.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Salem State University Peru State College
Tuition (In State) $910 $5,760
Tuition (Out of State) $7,050 $5,760
Room & Board $14,954 $9,600
Avg Net Price $19,277 $12,618
Avg Grant Aid $8,562 $9,427
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 98%

Admission

Salem State University Peru State College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,093 -
Admitted 4,719 -
Acceptance Rate 92.7% Open
Enrolled % 18.3% Open
Avg High School GPA 3.17 -
Typical High School Grades B -
Admissions Standards Moderate Unavailable
Applicant Competition
ACT Range
SAT Range 986/1210
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jun 1, 2025

Academics

Salem State University Peru State College
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 20:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Business (40%)
  • Education (38%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (2%)

Outcomes

Salem State University Peru State College
Graduation Rate 42% 26%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,400 $38,000
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 55%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $20,975
Median Loan Payment $248 $216

Diversity

Salem State University Peru State College
% Men 31% 39%
% Women 69% 61%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 68% 78%
% Black 9% 9%
% Hispanic 12% 6%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 1%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

Salem State University Peru State College
% In-State 90% 56%
% Out-of-State 8% 40%

Campus

Salem State University Peru State 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 Peru State College based on total student enrollment (6,539 students vs. 1,799 students)

Salem State University vs. Peru State College Cost Comparison

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

  • Peru State College is 533% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($5,760.00 vs. $910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 22.4% higher at Salem State University than Peru State College ($7,050.00 vs. $5,760.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Peru State College than Salem State University ($12,618 vs. $19,277)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Peru State College are 55.8% lower than costs at Salem State University ($9,600 vs. $14,954)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than Peru State College (99% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Peru State College students is 10.1% larger than aid received Salem State University ($9,427 vs. $8,562)

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

Salem State University vs. Peru State College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • The graduation rate at Salem State University is higher than Peru State College (42% vs. 26%)
  • Graduates from Salem State University earn on average $6,400 more per year than Peru State College graduates after ten years. ($44,400 vs. $38,000)
  • Peru State College students graduate with a $3,025 lower median federal student loan debt than Salem State University graduates. ($20,975 vs. $24,000)
  • Peru State College graduates are paying $32 less per month on federal student loans than Salem State University graduates. ($216 vs. $248)
  • More Salem State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Peru State College students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 55%)

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