Salem State University vs. University of South Carolina-Upstate

Should I go to Salem State University or University of South Carolina Upstate? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Salem State University or University of South Carolina-Upstate 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 South Carolina Upstate comparison
Salem State University University of South Carolina Upstate College 3 College 4
Salem State University
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Overview

Salem State University University of South Carolina-Upstate
Location Salem, MA Spartanburg, SC
Setting Large Suburban Midsize Suburban
Enrollment 6,239 4,946
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #783 #776
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website salemstate.edu uscupstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Salem State University University of South Carolina-Upstate
Tuition (In State) $910 $11,208
Tuition (Out of State) $7,050 $22,170
Room & Board $16,378 $10,040
Avg Net Price $19,324 $13,794
Avg Grant Aid $8,241 $10,414
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 97%

Admission

Salem State University University of South Carolina-Upstate
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,852 3,557
Admitted 4,637 2,476
Acceptance Rate 95.6% 69.6%
Enrolled % 17.5% 27.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.17 2.53
Typical High School Grades B C+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Easy
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 19/25
SAT Range 990/1160 1000/1170
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 University of South Carolina-Upstate
Student to Faculty Ratio 11:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Health Professions (26%)
  • Education (20%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (8%)
  • Psychology (6%)

Outcomes

Salem State University University of South Carolina-Upstate
Graduation Rate 42% 39%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,400 $39,300
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 55%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $22,500
Median Loan Payment $248 $232

Diversity

Salem State University University of South Carolina-Upstate
% Men 5% 2%
% Women 17% 8%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 68% 56%
% Black 9% 29%
% Hispanic 12% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 3% 2%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

Salem State University University of South Carolina-Upstate
% In-State 90% 89%
% Out-of-State 8% 8%

Campus

Salem State University University of South Carolina-Upstate
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 University of South Carolina-Upstate based on total student enrollment (6,239 students vs. 4,946 students)

Salem State University vs. University of South Carolina-Upstate Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Salem State University or University of South Carolina-Upstate?

  • University of South Carolina Upstate is 1,131.6% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($11,208.00 vs. $910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 214.5% higher at University of South Carolina-Upstate than Salem State University ($22,170.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Carolina Upstate than Salem State University ($13,794 vs. $19,324)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Upstate are 63.1% lower than costs at Salem State University ($10,040 vs. $16,378)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than University of South Carolina Upstate (98% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of South Carolina Upstate students is 26.4% larger than aid received Salem State University ($10,414 vs. $8,241)

Salem State University vs. University of South Carolina-Upstate Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Salem State University students have a 0.64 point higher average high school GPA (3.17) than students at University of South Carolina-Upstate (2.53)
  • Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (95.6%) than University of South Carolina-Upstate (69.6%)

Salem State University vs. University of South Carolina-Upstate Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Salem State University or University of South Carolina-Upstate? 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 University of South Carolina-Upstate and Salem State University.

  • The graduation rate at Salem State University is higher than University of South Carolina Upstate (42% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from Salem State University earn on average $5,100 more per year than University of South Carolina-Upstate graduates after ten years. ($44,400 vs. $39,300)
  • University of South Carolina Upstate students graduate with a $1,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Salem State University graduates. ($22,500 vs. $24,000)
  • University of South Carolina-Upstate graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than Salem State University graduates. ($232 vs. $248)
  • More Salem State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of South Carolina-Upstate students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 55%)

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