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Bridgewater State Fitchburg State Framingham State University Westfield State University University of Massachusetts-Boston Suffolk University Marywood KSC UMass Dartmouth University of Massachusetts-Lowell YCP Worcester State University| Salem State University | Wilkes University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Salem State University | Wilkes | ||
| Location | Salem, MA | Wilkes-Barre, PA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Small City | ||
| Enrollment | 6,539 | 5,207 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #733 | #478 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | salemstate.edu | wilkes.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Salem State University | Wilkes | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $910 | $39,134 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $7,050 | $39,134 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,954 | $15,850 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,277 | $27,918 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,562 | $29,441 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 97% |
Admission |
Salem State University | Wilkes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 5,093 | 4,798 | ||
| Admitted | 4,719 | 4,517 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 92.7% | 94.1% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.3% | 10.6% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.17 | 3.56 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B+ | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Average | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 21/26 | |||
| SAT Range | 986/1210 | 1060/1260 | ||
| 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 | Wilkes | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Salem State University | Wilkes | ||
| Graduation Rate | 42% | 58% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,400 | $58,200 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 63% | 75% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,000 | $26,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $248 | $268 |
Diversity |
Salem State University | Wilkes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 31% | 31% | ||
| % Women | 69% | 69% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Low | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 68% | 73% | ||
| % Black | 9% | 4% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 6% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 4% | ||
| % International | 3% | 9% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 2% |
Students |
Salem State University | Wilkes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 90% | 75% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 8% | 24% | ||
Campus |
Salem State University | Wilkes | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | Yes | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Salem State University is larger than than Wilkes based on total student enrollment (6,539 students vs. 5,207 students)
Salem State University vs. Wilkes Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Salem State University or Wilkes?
- Wilkes University is 4,200.4% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($39,134.00 vs. $910.00)
- Out of state tuition is 455.1% higher at Wilkes than Salem State University ($39,134.00 vs. $7,050.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Salem State University than Wilkes ($19,277 vs. $27,918)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Salem State University are 6% lower than costs at Wilkes University ($14,954 vs. $15,850)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than Wilkes University (99% vs. 97%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Wilkes University students is 243.9% larger than aid received Salem State University ($29,441 vs. $8,562)
Salem State University vs. Wilkes Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Salem State University or Wilkes? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Wilkes or Salem State University .
- Accepted freshman Wilkes students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (3.56) than students at Salem State University (3.17)
- Wilkes has a higher acceptance rate (94.1%) than Salem State University (92.7%)
Salem State University vs. Wilkes Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Salem State University or Wilkes? 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 Wilkes and Salem State University.
- The graduation rate at Wilkes is higher than Salem State University (58% vs. 42%)
- Graduates from Wilkes University earn on average $13,800 more per year than Salem State University graduates after ten years. ($58,200 vs. $44,400)
- Salem State University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Wilkes graduates. ($24,000 vs. $26,000)
- Salem State University graduates are paying $20 less per month on federal student loans than Wilkes graduates. ($248 vs. $268)
- More Wilkes 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/