SMFA vs. Salem State University

Should I go to School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston or Salem State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if SMFA or Salem State 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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School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston vs. Salem State University comparison
School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston Salem State University College 3 College 4
School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston Salem State University
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Overview

SMFA Salem State University
Location Boston, MA Salem, MA
Setting Large City Large Suburban
Enrollment 492 6,539
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #733
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website smfa.edu salemstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

SMFA Salem State University
Tuition (In State) $39,928 $910
Tuition (Out of State) $39,928 $7,050
Room & Board $14,850 $14,954
Avg Net Price $39,340 $19,277
Avg Grant Aid $15,629 $8,562
% Receiving Grant Aid 100% 99%

Admission

SMFA Salem State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 318 5,093
Admitted 258 4,719
Acceptance Rate 81.1% 92.7%
Enrolled % 15.5% 18.3%
Avg High School GPA - 3.17
Typical High School Grades - B
Admissions Standards Unavailable Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range
SAT Range 986/1210
Submit Test Scores Neither required nor recommended Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jun 1, 2025

Academics

SMFA Salem State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 0:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Visual and Performing Arts (100%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)

Outcomes

SMFA Salem State University
Graduation Rate 55% 42%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $34,300 $44,400
Making Student Loan Payments 62% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $26,000 $24,000
Median Loan Payment $268 $248

Diversity

SMFA Salem State University
% Men 0% 31%
% Women 0% 69%
Racial Diversity Very High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 49% 68%
% Black 3% 9%
% Hispanic 14% 12%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 12% 3%
% Unknown Race 15% 2%

Students

SMFA Salem State University
% In-State - 90%
% Out-of-State - 8%

Campus

SMFA Salem State University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Salem State University is larger than than SMFA based on total student enrollment (6,539 students vs. 492 students)

SMFA vs. Salem State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, SMFA or Salem State University?

  • School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston is 4,287.7% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($39,928.00 vs. $910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 466.4% higher at SMFA than Salem State University ($39,928.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Salem State University than SMFA ($19,277 vs. $39,340)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston are 0.7% lower than costs at Salem State University ($14,850 vs. $14,954)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston than Salem State University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston students is 82.5% larger than aid received Salem State University ($15,629 vs. $8,562)

SMFA vs. Salem State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than SMFA (81.1%)

SMFA vs. Salem State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, SMFA or Salem State 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 Salem State University and SMFA.

  • The graduation rate at SMFA is higher than Salem State University (55% vs. 42%)
  • Graduates from Salem State University earn on average $10,100 more per year than SMFA graduates after ten years. ($44,400 vs. $34,300)
  • Salem State University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than SMFA graduates. ($24,000 vs. $26,000)
  • Salem State University graduates are paying $20 less per month on federal student loans than SMFA graduates. ($248 vs. $268)
  • More Salem State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SMFA students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 62%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/