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Temple Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania Bridgewater State Millersville University of Pennsylvania Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Penn State Fitchburg State TU Drexel Framingham State University WVU Westfield State University| Salem State University | West Chester University of Pennsylvania | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Salem State University | WCU | ||
| Location | Salem, MA | West Chester, PA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 6,539 | 17,275 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #733 | #496 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | salemstate.edu | wcupa.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Salem State University | WCU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $910 | $7,716 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $7,050 | $19,290 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,954 | $14,228 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,277 | $22,973 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,562 | $5,443 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 64% |
Admission |
Salem State University | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 5,093 | 14,778 | ||
| Admitted | 4,719 | 12,982 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 92.7% | 87.8% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.3% | 23.2% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.17 | 3.43 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Challenging | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 23/30 | |||
| SAT Range | 986/1210 | 1080/1260 | ||
| 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 | WCU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 20:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Salem State University | WCU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 42% | 68% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,400 | $49,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 63% | 75% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,000 | $23,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $248 | $242 |
Diversity |
Salem State University | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 31% | 39% | ||
| % Women | 69% | 61% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 68% | 78% | ||
| % Black | 9% | 11% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 5% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 0% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 0% |
Students |
Salem State University | WCU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 90% | 87% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 8% | 12% | ||
Campus |
Salem State University | WCU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- West Chester University of Pennsylvania is larger than than Salem State University based on total student enrollment (17,275 students vs. 6,539 students)
Salem State University vs. WCU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Salem State University or WCU?
- West Chester University of Pennsylvania is 747.9% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($7,716.00 vs. $910.00)
- Out of state tuition is 173.6% higher at WCU than Salem State University ($19,290.00 vs. $7,050.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Salem State University than WCU ($19,277 vs. $22,973)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at West Chester University of Pennsylvania are 5.1% lower than costs at Salem State University ($14,228 vs. $14,954)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than West Chester University of Pennsylvania (99% vs. 64%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Salem State University students is 57.3% larger than aid received West Chester University of Pennsylvania ($8,562 vs. $5,443)
Salem State University vs. WCU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Salem State University or WCU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WCU or Salem State University .
- Accepted freshman WCU students have a 0.26 point higher average high school GPA (3.43) than students at Salem State University (3.17)
- Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than WCU (87.8%)
Salem State University vs. WCU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Salem State University or WCU? 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 WCU and Salem State University.
- The graduation rate at WCU is higher than Salem State University (68% vs. 42%)
- Graduates from West Chester University of Pennsylvania earn on average $4,600 more per year than Salem State University graduates after ten years. ($49,000 vs. $44,400)
- West Chester University of Pennsylvania students graduate with a $500 lower median federal student loan debt than Salem State University graduates. ($23,500 vs. $24,000)
- WCU graduates are paying $6 less per month on federal student loans than Salem State University graduates. ($242 vs. $248)
- More WCU graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem State University students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 63%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/