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RPI Bridgewater State Fitchburg State Framingham State University Westfield State University Clark University Holy Cross RIT Stevens Northeastern University of Massachusetts-Boston Worcester State University| Salem State University | Worcester Polytechnic Institute | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Salem State University | WPI | ||
| Location | Salem, MA | Worcester, MA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Midsize City | ||
| Enrollment | 6,539 | 7,308 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #733 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | salemstate.edu | wpi.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Salem State University | WPI | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $910 | $56,000 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $7,050 | $56,000 | ||
| Room & Board | $14,954 | $16,544 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $19,277 | $46,876 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $8,562 | $27,059 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 99% | 96% |
Admission |
Salem State University | WPI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 5,093 | 11,599 | ||
| Admitted | 4,719 | 6,667 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 92.7% | 57.5% | ||
| Enrolled % | 18.3% | 20.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.17 | 3.9 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Moderate | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | Low | |||
| ACT Range | ||||
| SAT Range | 986/1210 | |||
| 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, 2025 | Feb 15, 2025 |
Academics |
Salem State University | WPI | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 12:1 | 13:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Salem State University | WPI | ||
| Graduation Rate | 42% | 76% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $44,400 | $82,700 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 63% | 92% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $24,000 | $27,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $248 | $279 |
Diversity |
Salem State University | WPI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 31% | 64% | ||
| % Women | 69% | 36% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 68% | 63% | ||
| % Black | 9% | 2% | ||
| % Hispanic | 12% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 3% | 12% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 2% | 6% |
Students |
Salem State University | WPI | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 90% | 45% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 8% | 47% | ||
Campus |
Salem State University | WPI | ||
| 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
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute is larger than than Salem State University based on total student enrollment (7,308 students vs. 6,539 students)
Salem State University vs. WPI Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Salem State University or WPI?
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute is 6,053.8% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($56,000.00 vs. $910.00)
- Out of state tuition is 694.3% higher at WPI than Salem State University ($56,000.00 vs. $7,050.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Salem State University than WPI ($19,277 vs. $46,876)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Salem State University are 10.6% lower than costs at Worcester Polytechnic Institute ($14,954 vs. $16,544)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than Worcester Polytechnic Institute (99% vs. 96%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Worcester Polytechnic Institute students is 216% larger than aid received Salem State University ($27,059 vs. $8,562)
Salem State University vs. WPI Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Salem State University or WPI? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WPI or Salem State University .
- Accepted freshman WPI students have a 0.73 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Salem State University (3.17)
- Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than WPI (57.5%)
Salem State University vs. WPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Salem State University or WPI? 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 WPI and Salem State University.
- The graduation rate at WPI is higher than Salem State University (76% vs. 42%)
- Graduates from Worcester Polytechnic Institute earn on average $38,300 more per year than Salem State University graduates after ten years. ($82,700 vs. $44,400)
- Salem State University students graduate with a $3,000 lower median federal student loan debt than WPI graduates. ($24,000 vs. $27,000)
- Salem State University graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than WPI graduates. ($248 vs. $279)
- More WPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem State University students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 63%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/