Salem State University vs. Western New England University

Should I go to Salem State University or Western New England University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Salem State University or Western New England University 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. Western New England University comparison
Salem State University Western New England University College 3 College 4
Salem State University Western New England University
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Overview

Salem State University Western New England University
Location Salem, MA Springfield, MA
Setting Large Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 6,539 3,430
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #733 #372
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website salemstate.edu wne.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Salem State University Western New England University
Tuition (In State) $910 $41,750
Tuition (Out of State) $7,050 $41,750
Room & Board $14,954 $14,670
Avg Net Price $19,277 $30,214
Avg Grant Aid $8,562 $24,781
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 97%

Admission

Salem State University Western New England University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,093 6,128
Admitted 4,719 5,393
Acceptance Rate 92.7% 88%
Enrolled % 18.3% 10.9%
Avg High School GPA 3.17 3.49
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 24/29
SAT Range 986/1210 1090/1280
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 Western New England University
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 11:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Business (35%)
  • Engineering (15%)
  • Psychology (10%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (8%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)

Outcomes

Salem State University Western New England University
Graduation Rate 42% 61%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,400 $59,800
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $248 $279

Diversity

Salem State University Western New England University
% Men 31% 53%
% Women 69% 47%
Racial Diversity Medium Low
HBCU No No
% White 68% 73%
% Black 9% 6%
% Hispanic 12% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 1%
% International 3% 3%
% Unknown Race 2% 5%

Students

Salem State University Western New England University
% In-State 90% 54%
% Out-of-State 8% 44%

Campus

Salem State University Western New England University
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

  • Salem State University is larger than than Western New England University based on total student enrollment (6,539 students vs. 3,430 students)

Salem State University vs. Western New England University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Salem State University or Western New England University?

  • Western New England University is 4,487.9% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($41,750.00 vs. $910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 492.2% higher at Western New England University than Salem State University ($41,750.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Salem State University than Western New England University ($19,277 vs. $30,214)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Western New England University are 1.9% lower than costs at Salem State University ($14,670 vs. $14,954)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than Western New England University (99% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Western New England University students is 189.4% larger than aid received Salem State University ($24,781 vs. $8,562)

Salem State University vs. Western New England University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Western New England University students have a 0.32 point higher average high school GPA (3.49) than students at Salem State University (3.17)
  • Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than Western New England University (88%)

Salem State University vs. Western New England University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Salem State University or Western New England University? 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 Western New England University and Salem State University.

  • The graduation rate at Western New England University is higher than Salem State University (61% vs. 42%)
  • Graduates from Western New England University earn on average $15,400 more per year than Salem State University graduates after ten years. ($59,800 vs. $44,400)
  • Salem State University students graduate with a $3,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Western New England University graduates. ($24,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Salem State University graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than Western New England University graduates. ($248 vs. $279)
  • More Western New England University 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/