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Bridgewater State Fitchburg State Framingham State University Westfield State University University of Massachusetts-Boston Suffolk University KSC UMass Dartmouth University of Massachusetts-Lowell Mount Saint Mary College Worcester State University Endicott College| Salem State University | Saint Thomas Aquinas College | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Salem State University | Saint Thomas Aquinas College | ||
| Location | Salem, MA | Sparkill, NY | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 6,539 | 2,033 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #733 | #567 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | salemstate.edu | stac.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Salem State University | Saint Thomas Aquinas College | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $910 | $35,500 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $7,050 | $35,500 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,954 | $15,370 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,277 | $21,745 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,562 | $29,710 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 100% |
Admission |
Salem State University | Saint Thomas Aquinas College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 5,093 | 1,861 | ||
| Admitted | 4,719 | 1,649 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 92.7% | 88.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.3% | 14.9% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.17 | 3.0 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | ||||
| SAT Range | 986/1210 | 920/1270 | ||
| 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 | May 1, 2025 |
Academics |
Salem State University | Saint Thomas Aquinas College | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 15:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Salem State University | Saint Thomas Aquinas College | ||
| Graduation Rate | 42% | 58% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,400 | $48,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 63% | 71% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,000 | $22,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $248 | $232 |
Diversity |
Salem State University | Saint Thomas Aquinas College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 31% | 48% | ||
| % Women | 69% | 52% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 68% | 52% | ||
| % Black | 9% | 10% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 22% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 1% | ||
| % International | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 9% |
Students |
Salem State University | Saint Thomas Aquinas College | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 90% | 71% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 8% | 25% | ||
Campus |
Salem State University | Saint Thomas Aquinas College | ||
| 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
- Salem State University is larger than than Saint Thomas Aquinas College based on total student enrollment (6,539 students vs. 2,033 students)
Salem State University vs. Saint Thomas Aquinas College Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Salem State University or Saint Thomas Aquinas College?
- Saint Thomas Aquinas College is 3,801.1% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($35,500.00 vs. $910.00)
- Out of state tuition is 403.5% higher at Saint Thomas Aquinas College than Salem State University ($35,500.00 vs. $7,050.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Salem State University than Saint Thomas Aquinas College ($19,277 vs. $21,745)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Salem State University are 2.8% lower than costs at Saint Thomas Aquinas College ($14,954 vs. $15,370)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Saint Thomas Aquinas College than Salem State University (100% vs. 99%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Thomas Aquinas College students is 247% larger than aid received Salem State University ($29,710 vs. $8,562)
Salem State University vs. Saint Thomas Aquinas College Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Salem State University or Saint Thomas Aquinas College? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Saint Thomas Aquinas College or Salem State University .
- Accepted freshman Salem State University students have a 0.17 point higher average high school GPA (3.17) than students at Saint Thomas Aquinas College (3.0)
- Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than Saint Thomas Aquinas College (88.6%)
Salem State University vs. Saint Thomas Aquinas College Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Salem State University or Saint Thomas Aquinas 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 Saint Thomas Aquinas College and Salem State University.
- The graduation rate at Saint Thomas Aquinas College is higher than Salem State University (58% vs. 42%)
- Graduates from Saint Thomas Aquinas College earn on average $3,600 more per year than Salem State University graduates after ten years. ($48,000 vs. $44,400)
- Saint Thomas Aquinas College students graduate with a $1,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Salem State University graduates. ($22,500 vs. $24,000)
- Saint Thomas Aquinas College graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than Salem State University graduates. ($232 vs. $248)
- More Saint Thomas Aquinas College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem State University students, three years after graduation. (71% vs. 63%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/