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SIUE Northern Illinois Bridgewater State Fitchburg State Framingham State University Westfield State University ISU Southeast Missouri State University Illinois EIU WMU Western Illinois University| Southern Illinois University Carbondale | Salem State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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Overview |
Southern Illinois University | Salem State University | ||
| Location | Carbondale, IL | Salem, MA | ||
| Setting | Rural Fringe | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 11,359 | 6,239 | ||
| Type | Public 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #491 | #783 | ||
| Religious Affiliation | - | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | siuc.edu | salemstate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Southern Illinois University | Salem State University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $9,638 | $910 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $9,638 | $7,050 | ||
| Room & Board | $12,114 | $16,378 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $16,131 | $19,324 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $12,408 | $8,241 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 93% | 98% |
Admission |
Southern Illinois University | Salem State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 10,401 | 4,852 | ||
| Admitted | 9,407 | 4,637 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 90.4% | 95.6% | ||
| Enrolled % | 17.2% | 17.5% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.24 | 3.17 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Easy | Very Easy | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 20/27 | |||
| SAT Range | 910/1140 | 990/1160 | ||
| 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, 2026 |
Academics |
Southern Illinois University | Salem State University | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 11:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Southern Illinois University | Salem State University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 44% | 42% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $47,800 | $44,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 51% | 63% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $22,500 | $24,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $232 | $248 |
Diversity |
Southern Illinois University | Salem State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 13% | 5% | ||
| % Women | 15% | 17% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Medium | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 64% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 19% | 9% | ||
| % Hispanic | 8% | 12% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 3% | 3% | ||
| % International | 4% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 0% | 2% |
Students |
Southern Illinois University | Salem State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 83% | 90% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 16% | 8% | ||
Campus |
Southern Illinois University | Salem State University | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | Yes | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | Yes | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Southern Illinois University Carbondale is larger than than Salem State University based on total student enrollment (11,359 students vs. 6,239 students)
Southern Illinois University vs. Salem State University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Southern Illinois University or Salem State University?
- Southern Illinois University Carbondale is 959.1% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($9,638.00 vs. $910.00)
- Out of state tuition is 36.7% higher at Southern Illinois University than Salem State University ($9,638.00 vs. $7,050.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Southern Illinois University Carbondale than Salem State University ($16,131 vs. $19,324)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are 35.2% lower than costs at Salem State University ($12,114 vs. $16,378)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than Southern Illinois University Carbondale (98% vs. 93%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Southern Illinois University Carbondale students is 50.6% larger than aid received Salem State University ($12,408 vs. $8,241)
Southern Illinois University vs. Salem State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Southern Illinois University 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 Southern Illinois University .
- Accepted freshman Southern Illinois University students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.24) than students at Salem State University (3.17)
- Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (95.6%) than Southern Illinois University (90.4%)
Southern Illinois University vs. Salem State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Southern Illinois University 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 Southern Illinois University.
- The graduation rate at Southern Illinois University is higher than Salem State University (44% vs. 42%)
- Graduates from Southern Illinois University Carbondale earn on average $3,400 more per year than Salem State University graduates after ten years. ($47,800 vs. $44,400)
- Southern Illinois University Carbondale students graduate with a $1,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Salem State University graduates. ($22,500 vs. $24,000)
- Southern Illinois University graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than Salem State University graduates. ($232 vs. $248)
- More Salem State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Southern Illinois University students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 51%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/