Salem State University vs. Roger Williams University

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

Salem State University Roger Williams University
Location Salem, MA Bristol, RI
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 6,539 4,397
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #733 #355
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website salemstate.edu rwu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Salem State University Roger Williams University
Tuition (In State) $910 $40,632
Tuition (Out of State) $7,050 $40,632
Room & Board $14,954 $16,294
Avg Net Price $19,277 $37,964
Avg Grant Aid $8,562 $20,611
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 99%

Admission

Salem State University Roger Williams University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,093 8,121
Admitted 4,719 7,389
Acceptance Rate 92.7% 91%
Enrolled % 18.3% 14.5%
Avg High School GPA 3.17 3.43
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Difficult
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 25/31
SAT Range 986/1210 1120/1270
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 Feb 1, 2025

Academics

Salem State University Roger Williams University
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (11%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Architecture (7%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

Salem State University Roger Williams University
Graduation Rate 42% 59%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,400 $53,000
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 82%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $248 $279

Diversity

Salem State University Roger Williams University
% Men 31% 49%
% Women 69% 51%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 68% 75%
% Black 9% 2%
% Hispanic 12% 6%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 3% 5%
% Unknown Race 2% 9%

Students

Salem State University Roger Williams University
% In-State 90% 16%
% Out-of-State 8% 81%

Campus

Salem State University Roger Williams University
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

  • Salem State University is larger than than Roger Williams University based on total student enrollment (6,539 students vs. 4,397 students)

Salem State University vs. Roger Williams University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Salem State University or Roger Williams University?

  • Roger Williams University is 4,365.1% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($40,632.00 vs. $910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 476.3% higher at Roger Williams University than Salem State University ($40,632.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Salem State University than Roger Williams University ($19,277 vs. $37,964)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Salem State University are 9% lower than costs at Roger Williams University ($14,954 vs. $16,294)
  • The same percent of students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University as Roger Williams University (99% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Roger Williams University students is 140.7% larger than aid received Salem State University ($20,611 vs. $8,562)

Salem State University vs. Roger Williams University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Roger Williams University students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.43) than students at Salem State University (3.17)
  • Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than Roger Williams University (91%)

Salem State University vs. Roger Williams University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Salem State University or Roger Williams University? 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 Roger Williams University and Salem State University.

  • The graduation rate at Roger Williams University is higher than Salem State University (59% vs. 42%)
  • Graduates from Roger Williams University earn on average $8,600 more per year than Salem State University graduates after ten years. ($53,000 vs. $44,400)
  • Salem State University students graduate with a $3,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Roger Williams University graduates. ($24,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Salem State University graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than Roger Williams University graduates. ($248 vs. $279)
  • More Roger Williams University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem State University students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 63%)

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