Salem State University vs. SUNY Cortland

Should I go to Salem State University or SUNY College at Cortland? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Salem State University or SUNY Cortland 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.

Add a college to compare up to four schools
Salem State University vs. SUNY College at Cortland comparison
Salem State University SUNY College at Cortland College 3 College 4
Salem State University SUNY College at Cortland
Remove Remove +Add +Add

Overview

Salem State University SUNY Cortland
Location Salem, MA Cortland, NY
Setting Large Suburban Rural Fringe
Enrollment 6,539 6,690
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #733 #399
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website salemstate.edu cortland.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Salem State University SUNY Cortland
Tuition (In State) $910 $7,070
Tuition (Out of State) $7,050 $16,980
Room & Board $14,954 $13,620
Avg Net Price $19,277 $18,304
Avg Grant Aid $8,562 $9,369
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 73%

Admission

Salem State University SUNY Cortland
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,093 11,711
Admitted 4,719 7,001
Acceptance Rate 92.7% 59.8%
Enrolled % 18.3% 19.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.17 3.7
Typical High School Grades B A-
Admissions Standards Moderate Average
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 22/27
SAT Range 986/1210 1090/1240
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

Academics

Salem State University SUNY Cortland
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Education (41%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (16%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Communication (7%)
  • Health Professions (5%)

Outcomes

Salem State University SUNY Cortland
Graduation Rate 42% 67%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,400 $47,300
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 75%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $248 $222

Diversity

Salem State University SUNY Cortland
% Men 31% 44%
% Women 69% 56%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 68% 74%
% Black 9% 6%
% Hispanic 12% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 3% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 5%

Students

Salem State University SUNY Cortland
% In-State 90% 96%
% Out-of-State 8% 4%

Campus

Salem State University SUNY Cortland
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • SUNY College at Cortland is larger than than Salem State University based on total student enrollment (6,690 students vs. 6,539 students)

Salem State University vs. SUNY Cortland Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Salem State University or SUNY Cortland?

  • SUNY College at Cortland is 676.9% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($7,070.00 vs. $910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 140.9% higher at SUNY Cortland than Salem State University ($16,980.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at SUNY College at Cortland than Salem State University ($18,304 vs. $19,277)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUNY College at Cortland are 9.8% lower than costs at Salem State University ($13,620 vs. $14,954)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than SUNY College at Cortland (99% vs. 73%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by SUNY College at Cortland students is 9.4% larger than aid received Salem State University ($9,369 vs. $8,562)

Salem State University vs. SUNY Cortland Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman SUNY Cortland students have a 0.53 point higher average high school GPA (3.7) than students at Salem State University (3.17)
  • Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than SUNY Cortland (59.8%)

Salem State University vs. SUNY Cortland Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Salem State University or SUNY Cortland? 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 SUNY Cortland and Salem State University.

  • The graduation rate at SUNY Cortland is higher than Salem State University (67% vs. 42%)
  • Graduates from SUNY College at Cortland earn on average $2,900 more per year than Salem State University graduates after ten years. ($47,300 vs. $44,400)
  • SUNY College at Cortland students graduate with a $2,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Salem State University graduates. ($21,500 vs. $24,000)
  • SUNY Cortland graduates are paying $26 less per month on federal student loans than Salem State University graduates. ($222 vs. $248)
  • More SUNY Cortland graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem State University students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 63%)

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