Salem State University vs. Wilkes

Should I go to Salem State University or Wilkes University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Salem State University or Wilkes 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. Wilkes University comparison
Salem State University Wilkes University College 3 College 4
Salem State University Wilkes University
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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
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
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Business (18%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (13%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Engineering (11%)
  • Communication (8%)

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/