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Old Dominion Bridgewater State Longwood University Fitchburg State Framingham State University Westfield State University JMU VSU University of Massachusetts-Boston Virginia Tech VCU Mason| Salem State University | Radford University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Salem State University | RU | ||
| Location | Salem, MA | Radford, VA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Distant Town | ||
| Enrollment | 6,239 | 7,531 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #783 | #449 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | salemstate.edu | radford.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Salem State University | RU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $910 | $8,401 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $7,050 | $20,853 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,378 | $11,973 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,324 | $18,282 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,241 | $8,968 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 99% |
Admission |
Salem State University | RU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,852 | 11,072 | ||
| Admitted | 4,637 | 10,036 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 95.6% | 90.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 17.5% | 11% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.17 | 3.31 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 19/26 | |||
| SAT Range | 990/1160 | 950/1170 | ||
| 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, 2026 |
Academics |
Salem State University | RU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 12:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Salem State University | RU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 42% | 56% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,400 | $47,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 63% | 70% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,000 | $23,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $248 | $237 |
Diversity |
Salem State University | RU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 5% | 5% | ||
| % Women | 17% | 19% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 68% | 71% | ||
| % Black | 9% | 13% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 5% | ||
| % International | 3% | 1% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
Salem State University | RU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 90% | 88% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 8% | 11% | ||
Campus |
Salem State University | RU | ||
| 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
- Radford University is larger than than Salem State University based on total student enrollment (7,531 students vs. 6,239 students)
Salem State University vs. RU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Salem State University or RU?
- Radford University is 823.2% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($8,401.00 vs. $910.00)
- Out of state tuition is 195.8% higher at RU than Salem State University ($20,853.00 vs. $7,050.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Radford University than Salem State University ($18,282 vs. $19,324)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Radford University are 36.8% lower than costs at Salem State University ($11,973 vs. $16,378)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Radford University than Salem State University (99% vs. 98%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Radford University students is 8.8% larger than aid received Salem State University ($8,968 vs. $8,241)
Salem State University vs. RU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Salem State University or RU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between RU or Salem State University .
- Accepted freshman RU students have a 0.14 point higher average high school GPA (3.31) than students at Salem State University (3.17)
- Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (95.6%) than RU (90.6%)
Salem State University vs. RU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Salem State University or RU? 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 RU and Salem State University.
- The graduation rate at RU is higher than Salem State University (56% vs. 42%)
- Graduates from Radford University earn on average $3,000 more per year than Salem State University graduates after ten years. ($47,400 vs. $44,400)
- Radford University students graduate with a $1,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Salem State University graduates. ($23,000 vs. $24,000)
- RU graduates are paying $11 less per month on federal student loans than Salem State University graduates. ($237 vs. $248)
- More RU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem State University students, three years after graduation. (70% vs. 63%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/