Salem State University vs. Alfred State College

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

Salem State University Alfred State College
Location Salem, MA Alfred, NY
Setting Large Suburban Rural Fringe
Enrollment 6,239 3,749
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #783 #507
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website salemstate.edu alfredstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Salem State University Alfred State College
Tuition (In State) $910 $7,070
Tuition (Out of State) $7,050 $14,575
Room & Board $16,378 $14,180
Avg Net Price $19,324 $14,877
Avg Grant Aid $8,241 $8,952
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 92%

Admission

Salem State University Alfred State College
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,852 7,839
Admitted 4,637 6,408
Acceptance Rate 95.6% 81.7%
Enrolled % 17.5% 19.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.17 3.1
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Very Easy Very Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/23
SAT Range 990/1160 970/1170
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 Alfred State College
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 16:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Engineering Technology (20%)
  • Construction Trades (17%)
  • Mechanic and Repair Technologies (13%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Business (10%)

Outcomes

Salem State University Alfred State College
Graduation Rate 42% 68%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,400 $42,100
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 66%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $14,874
Median Loan Payment $248 $153

Diversity

Salem State University Alfred State College
% Men 5% 3%
% Women 17% 3%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 68% 76%
% Black 9% 10%
% Hispanic 12% 7%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

Salem State University Alfred State College
% In-State 90% 95%
% Out-of-State 8% 5%

Campus

Salem State University Alfred State 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 Alfred State College based on total student enrollment (6,239 students vs. 3,749 students)

Salem State University vs. Alfred State College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Salem State University or Alfred State College?

  • SUNY College of Technology at Alfred 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 106.7% higher at Alfred State College than Salem State University ($14,575.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at SUNY College of Technology at Alfred than Salem State University ($14,877 vs. $19,324)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUNY College of Technology at Alfred are 15.5% lower than costs at Salem State University ($14,180 vs. $16,378)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than SUNY College of Technology at Alfred (98% vs. 92%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by SUNY College of Technology at Alfred students is 8.6% larger than aid received Salem State University ($8,952 vs. $8,241)

Salem State University vs. Alfred State College Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Salem State University students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.17) than students at Alfred State College (3.1)
  • Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (95.6%) than Alfred State College (81.7%)

Salem State University vs. Alfred State College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Salem State University or Alfred State 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 Alfred State College and Salem State University.

  • The graduation rate at Alfred State College is higher than Salem State University (68% vs. 42%)
  • Graduates from Salem State University earn on average $2,300 more per year than Alfred State College graduates after ten years. ($44,400 vs. $42,100)
  • SUNY College of Technology at Alfred students graduate with a $9,126 lower median federal student loan debt than Salem State University graduates. ($14,874 vs. $24,000)
  • Alfred State College graduates are paying $95 less per month on federal student loans than Salem State University graduates. ($153 vs. $248)
  • More Alfred State College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem State University students, three years after graduation. (66% vs. 63%)

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