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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 Worcester State University Endicott College University of Southern Maine| Salem State University | University of Houston Clear Lake | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Salem State University | UHCL | ||
| Location | Salem, MA | Houston, TX | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 6,239 | 8,211 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #783 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | salemstate.edu | uhcl.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Salem State University | UHCL | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $910 | $6,024 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $7,050 | $19,608 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,378 | $11,014 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,324 | $10,488 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,241 | $12,220 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 69% |
Admission |
Salem State University | UHCL | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,852 | 2,348 | ||
| Admitted | 4,637 | 1,768 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 95.6% | 75.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 17.5% | 24.8% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.17 | 3.39 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/23 | |||
| SAT Range | 990/1160 | 990/1170 | ||
| 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, 2026 | Jun 1, 2026 |
Academics |
Salem State University | UHCL | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 19:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Salem State University | UHCL | ||
| Graduation Rate | 42% | - | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,400 | $53,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 63% | 56% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,000 | $17,150 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $248 | $177 |
Diversity |
Salem State University | UHCL | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 5% | 9% | ||
| % Women | 17% | 16% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Very High | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 68% | 43% | ||
| % Black | 9% | 9% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 36% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 2% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 1% |
Students |
Salem State University | UHCL | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 90% | 95% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 8% | 0% | ||
Campus |
Salem State University | UHCL | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | |||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | |||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- University of Houston Clear Lake is larger than than Salem State University based on total student enrollment (8,211 students vs. 6,239 students)
Salem State University vs. UHCL Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Salem State University or UHCL?
- University of Houston Clear Lake is 562% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($6,024.00 vs. $910.00)
- Out of state tuition is 178.1% higher at UHCL than Salem State University ($19,608.00 vs. $7,050.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Houston Clear Lake than Salem State University ($10,488 vs. $19,324)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Houston Clear Lake are 48.7% lower than costs at Salem State University ($11,014 vs. $16,378)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than University of Houston Clear Lake (98% vs. 69%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Houston Clear Lake students is 48.3% larger than aid received Salem State University ($12,220 vs. $8,241)
Salem State University vs. UHCL Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Salem State University or UHCL? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between UHCL or Salem State University .
- Accepted freshman UHCL students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.39) than students at Salem State University (3.17)
- Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (95.6%) than UHCL (75.3%)
Salem State University vs. UHCL Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Salem State University or UHCL? 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 UHCL and Salem State University.
- Graduates from University of Houston Clear Lake earn on average $9,300 more per year than Salem State University graduates after ten years. ($53,700 vs. $44,400)
- University of Houston Clear Lake students graduate with a $6,850 lower median federal student loan debt than Salem State University graduates. ($17,150 vs. $24,000)
- UHCL graduates are paying $71 less per month on federal student loans than Salem State University graduates. ($177 vs. $248)
- More Salem State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UHCL students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 56%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/