Salem State University vs. St. Cloud State University

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

Salem State University St. Cloud State University
Location Salem, MA Saint Cloud, MN
Setting Large Suburban Small City
Enrollment 6,539 10,420
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #733 #710
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website salemstate.edu stcloudstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Salem State University St. Cloud State University
Tuition (In State) $910 $8,811
Tuition (Out of State) $7,050 $18,695
Room & Board $14,954 $9,950
Avg Net Price $19,277 $14,065
Avg Grant Aid $8,562 $6,042
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 98%

Admission

Salem State University St. Cloud State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,093 4,810
Admitted 4,719 4,583
Acceptance Rate 92.7% 95.3%
Enrolled % 18.3% 16.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.17 3.4
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24
SAT Range 986/1210 1027/1200
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 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Salem State University St. Cloud State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Business (27%)
  • Education (13%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)

Outcomes

Salem State University St. Cloud State University
Graduation Rate 42% 48%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,400 $46,700
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 67%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $22,500
Median Loan Payment $248 $232

Diversity

Salem State University St. Cloud State University
% Men 31% 43%
% Women 69% 57%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 68% 73%
% Black 9% 7%
% Hispanic 12% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 3% 7%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

Salem State University St. Cloud State University
% In-State 90% 75%
% Out-of-State 8% 11%

Campus

Salem State University St. Cloud State University
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

  • Saint Cloud State University is larger than than Salem State University based on total student enrollment (10,420 students vs. 6,539 students)

Salem State University vs. St. Cloud State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Salem State University or St. Cloud State University?

  • Saint Cloud State University is 868.2% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($8,811.00 vs. $910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 165.2% higher at St. Cloud State University than Salem State University ($18,695.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Saint Cloud State University than Salem State University ($14,065 vs. $19,277)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Cloud State University are 50.3% lower than costs at Salem State University ($9,950 vs. $14,954)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than Saint Cloud State University (99% vs. 98%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Salem State University students is 41.7% larger than aid received Saint Cloud State University ($8,562 vs. $6,042)

Salem State University vs. St. Cloud State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman St. Cloud State University students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.4) than students at Salem State University (3.17)
  • St. Cloud State University has a higher acceptance rate (95.3%) than Salem State University (92.7%)

Salem State University vs. St. Cloud State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Salem State University or St. Cloud State 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 St. Cloud State University and Salem State University.

  • The graduation rate at St. Cloud State University is higher than Salem State University (48% vs. 42%)
  • Graduates from Saint Cloud State University earn on average $2,300 more per year than Salem State University graduates after ten years. ($46,700 vs. $44,400)
  • Saint Cloud State University students graduate with a $1,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Salem State University graduates. ($22,500 vs. $24,000)
  • St. Cloud State University graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than Salem State University graduates. ($232 vs. $248)
  • More St. Cloud State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem State University students, three years after graduation. (67% vs. 63%)

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