Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Bridgewater State Fitchburg State Framingham State University Westfield State University University of Massachusetts-Boston WSC Suffolk University KSC UMass Dartmouth University of Massachusetts-Lowell Worcester State University Endicott College| Salem State University | University of Nebraska at Kearney | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Salem State University | UNK | ||
| Location | Salem, MA | Kearney, NE | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Remote Town | ||
| Enrollment | 6,239 | 6,017 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #783 | #574 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | salemstate.edu | unk.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Salem State University | UNK | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $910 | $6,450 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $7,050 | $12,418 | ||
| Room & Board | $16,378 | $11,936 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,324 | $16,249 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,241 | $8,779 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 98% | 86% |
Admission |
Salem State University | UNK | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 4,852 | 7,253 | ||
| Admitted | 4,637 | 6,222 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 95.6% | 85.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 17.5% | 14.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.17 | 3.24 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Very Easy | Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 18/25 | |||
| SAT Range | 990/1160 | 970/1150 | ||
| 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 | 11:1 | 13:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
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 | 5% | 8% | ||
| % Women | 17% | 22% | ||
| 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% | 86% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 8% | 9% | ||
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 (6,239 students vs. 6,017 students)
Salem State University vs. UNK Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Salem State University or UNK?
- University of Nebraska at Kearney is 608.8% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($6,450.00 vs. $910.00)
- Out of state tuition is 76.1% higher at UNK than Salem State University ($12,418.00 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 ($16,249 vs. $19,324)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Nebraska at Kearney are 37.2% lower than costs at Salem State University ($11,936 vs. $16,378)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than University of Nebraska at Kearney (98% vs. 86%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by University of Nebraska at Kearney students is 6.5% larger than aid received Salem State University ($8,779 vs. $8,241)
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 (95.6%) than UNK (85.8%)
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/