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Bridgewater State Fitchburg State Framingham State University Westfield State University Minnesota State University-Mankato University of Minnesota-Duluth University of Massachusetts-Boston Winona State University MSU Moorhead University of St Thomas Suffolk University South Dakota State University| Salem State University | Saint Cloud State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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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 | ||
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| 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 | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 16:1 | ||
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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/