Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
UC Riverside UCSC CSU UC Davis San Jose State Bridgewater State Cal State Fullerton San Diego State Cal Poly California State Polytechnic University-Pomona Fitchburg State San Francisco State| Salem State University | University of California Merced | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Salem State University | UC Merced | ||
| Location | Salem, MA | Merced, CA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Rural Fringe | ||
| Enrollment | 6,239 | 9,147 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #783 | #542 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | salemstate.edu | ucmerced.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Salem State University | UC Merced | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $910 | $11,834 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $7,050 | $42,611 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,378 | $20,293 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,324 | $13,232 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,241 | $24,868 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 81% |
Admission |
Salem State University | UC Merced | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,852 | 67,891 | ||
| Admitted | 4,637 | 26,598 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 95.6% | 39.2% | ||
| Enrolled % | 17.5% | 9.1% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.17 | 3.55 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | High | |||
| ACT Range | 19/24 | |||
| SAT Range | 990/1160 | 960/1140 | ||
| Submit Test Scores | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Jun 1, 2026 | Nov 30, 2025 |
Academics |
Salem State University | UC Merced | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 21:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Salem State University | UC Merced | ||
| Graduation Rate | 42% | 58% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,400 | N/A | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 63% | 64% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,000 | $19,899 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $248 | $205 |
Diversity |
Salem State University | UC Merced | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 5% | 5% | ||
| % Women | 17% | 4% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 68% | 13% | ||
| % Black | 9% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 48% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 3% | 5% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
Salem State University | UC Merced | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 90% | 99% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 8% | 0% | ||
Campus |
Salem State University | UC Merced | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of California Merced is larger than than Salem State University based on total student enrollment (9,147 students vs. 6,239 students)
Salem State University vs. UC Merced Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Salem State University or UC Merced?
- University of California Merced is 1,200.4% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($11,834.00 vs. $910.00)
- Out of state tuition is 504.4% higher at UC Merced than Salem State University ($42,611.00 vs. $7,050.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of California Merced than Salem State University ($13,232 vs. $19,324)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Salem State University are 23.9% lower than costs at University of California Merced ($16,378 vs. $20,293)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than University of California Merced (98% vs. 81%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of California Merced students is 201.8% larger than aid received Salem State University ($24,868 vs. $8,241)
Salem State University vs. UC Merced Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Salem State University or UC Merced? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UC Merced or Salem State University .
- Accepted freshman UC Merced students have a 0.38 point higher average high school GPA (3.55) than students at Salem State University (3.17)
- Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (95.6%) than UC Merced (39.2%)
Salem State University vs. UC Merced Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Salem State University or UC Merced? 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 UC Merced and Salem State University.
- The graduation rate at UC Merced is higher than Salem State University (58% vs. 42%)
- University of California Merced students graduate with a $4,101 lower median federal student loan debt than Salem State University graduates. ($19,899 vs. $24,000)
- UC Merced graduates are paying $43 less per month on federal student loans than Salem State University graduates. ($205 vs. $248)
- More UC Merced graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem State University students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 63%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/