Salem State University vs. UWT

Should I go to Salem State University or University of Washington Tacoma Campus? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Salem State University or UWT 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 Washington Tacoma Campus comparison
Salem State University University of Washington Tacoma Campus College 3 College 4
Salem State University University of Washington Tacoma Campus
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Overview

Salem State University UWT
Location Salem, MA Tacoma, WA
Setting Large Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 6,239 4,777
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #783
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website salemstate.edu washington.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Salem State University UWT
Tuition (In State) $910 $11,524
Tuition (Out of State) $7,050 $40,878
Room & Board $16,378 $15,948
Avg Net Price $19,324 $11,290
Avg Grant Aid $8,241 $13,521
% Receiving Grant Aid 98% 77%

Admission

Salem State University UWT
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 4,852 3,161
Admitted 4,637 2,622
Acceptance Rate 95.6% 82.9%
Enrolled % 17.5% 25.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.17 3.41
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 16/24
SAT Range 990/1160 960/1180
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 Jun 30, 2026

Academics

Salem State University UWT
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%)
  • General Studies (48%)
  • Business (22%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (10%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Social Sciences (5%)

Outcomes

Salem State University UWT
Graduation Rate 42% -
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,400 $65,800
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $15,000
Median Loan Payment $248 $155

Diversity

Salem State University UWT
% Men 5% 6%
% Women 17% 10%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 68% 43%
% Black 9% 7%
% Hispanic 12% 12%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 2%
% Two or More Races 3% 8%
% International 3% 5%
% Unknown Race 2% 4%

Students

Salem State University UWT
% In-State 90% 96%
% Out-of-State 8% 2%

Campus

Salem State University UWT
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes No
Weekend/Evening Classes No Yes
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Salem State University is larger than than UWT based on total student enrollment (6,239 students vs. 4,777 students)

Salem State University vs. UWT Cost Comparison

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

  • University of Washington Tacoma Campus is 1,166.4% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($11,524.00 vs. $910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 479.8% higher at UWT than Salem State University ($40,878.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Washington Tacoma Campus than Salem State University ($11,290 vs. $19,324)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Washington Tacoma Campus are 2.7% lower than costs at Salem State University ($15,948 vs. $16,378)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than University of Washington Tacoma Campus (98% vs. 77%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Washington Tacoma Campus students is 64.1% larger than aid received Salem State University ($13,521 vs. $8,241)

Salem State University vs. UWT Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman UWT students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.41) than students at Salem State University (3.17)
  • Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (95.6%) than UWT (82.9%)

Salem State University vs. UWT Graduation Outcomes Comparison

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

  • Graduates from University of Washington Tacoma Campus earn on average $21,400 more per year than Salem State University graduates after ten years. ($65,800 vs. $44,400)
  • University of Washington Tacoma Campus students graduate with a $9,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Salem State University graduates. ($15,000 vs. $24,000)
  • UWT graduates are paying $93 less per month on federal student loans than Salem State University graduates. ($155 vs. $248)
  • More UWT graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem State University students, three years after graduation. (76% vs. 63%)

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