Salem State University vs. UNK

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

Salem State University UNK
Location Salem, MA Kearney, NE
Setting Large Suburban Remote Town
Enrollment 6,539 6,041
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #733 #571
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website salemstate.edu unk.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Salem State University UNK
Tuition (In State) $910 $6,220
Tuition (Out of State) $7,050 $12,036
Room & Board $14,954 $11,390
Avg Net Price $19,277 $16,564
Avg Grant Aid $8,562 $7,282
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

Salem State University UNK
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,093 6,794
Admitted 4,719 5,842
Acceptance Rate 92.7% 86%
Enrolled % 18.3% 14.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.17 3.24
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Moderate Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/25
SAT Range 986/1210 1000/1200
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 Aug 15, 2025

Academics

Salem State University UNK
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Business (24%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (6%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
  • Communication (5%)

Outcomes

Salem State University UNK
Graduation Rate 42% 61%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,400 $43,400
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 71%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $21,250
Median Loan Payment $248 $219

Diversity

Salem State University UNK
% Men 31% 34%
% Women 69% 66%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 68% 79%
% Black 9% 2%
% Hispanic 12% 11%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 3% 5%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

Salem State University UNK
% In-State 90% 85%
% Out-of-State 8% 11%

Campus

Salem State University UNK
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

  • Salem State University is larger than than UNK based on total student enrollment (6,539 students vs. 6,041 students)

Salem State University vs. UNK Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Salem State University or UNK?

  • University of Nebraska at Kearney is 583.5% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($6,220.00 vs. $910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 70.7% higher at UNK than Salem State University ($12,036.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Nebraska at Kearney than Salem State University ($16,564 vs. $19,277)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Nebraska at Kearney are 31.3% lower than costs at Salem State University ($11,390 vs. $14,954)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of Nebraska at Kearney than Salem State University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Salem State University students is 17.6% larger than aid received University of Nebraska at Kearney ($8,562 vs. $7,282)

Salem State University vs. UNK Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman UNK students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.24) than students at Salem State University (3.17)
  • Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than UNK (86%)

Salem State University vs. UNK Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Salem State University or UNK? 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 UNK and Salem State University.

  • The graduation rate at UNK is higher than Salem State University (61% vs. 42%)
  • Graduates from Salem State University earn on average $1,000 more per year than UNK graduates after ten years. ($44,400 vs. $43,400)
  • University of Nebraska at Kearney students graduate with a $2,750 lower median federal student loan debt than Salem State University graduates. ($21,250 vs. $24,000)
  • UNK graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than Salem State University graduates. ($219 vs. $248)
  • More UNK 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/