University of South Alabama vs. Salem State University

Should I go to University of South Alabama or Salem State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if University of South Alabama 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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University of South Alabama vs. Salem State University comparison
University of South Alabama Salem State University College 3 College 4
University of South Alabama Salem State University
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Overview

University of South Alabama Salem State University
Location Mobile, AL Salem, MA
Setting Midsize City Large Suburban
Enrollment 13,438 6,539
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #684 #733
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website southalabama.edu salemstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of South Alabama Salem State University
Tuition (In State) $8,616 $910
Tuition (Out of State) $17,232 $7,050
Room & Board $8,510 $14,954
Avg Net Price $15,664 $19,277
Avg Grant Aid $7,686 $8,562
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 99%

Admission

University of South Alabama Salem State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 12,550 5,093
Admitted 8,203 4,719
Acceptance Rate 65.4% 92.7%
Enrolled % 19.7% 18.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.69 3.17
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Moderate Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 20/26
SAT Range 1003/1200 986/1210
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jul 15, 2025 Jun 1, 2025

Academics

University of South Alabama Salem State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (27%)
  • Business (14%)
  • Education (11%)
  • Engineering (6%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)

Outcomes

University of South Alabama Salem State University
Graduation Rate 39% 42%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $45,200 $44,400
Making Student Loan Payments 45% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,500 $24,000
Median Loan Payment $253 $248

Diversity

University of South Alabama Salem State University
% Men 32% 31%
% Women 68% 69%
Racial Diversity High Medium
HBCU No No
% White 59% 68%
% Black 24% 9%
% Hispanic 3% 12%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 5% 3%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

University of South Alabama Salem State University
% In-State 73% 90%
% Out-of-State 25% 8%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • University of South Alabama is larger than than Salem State University based on total student enrollment (13,438 students vs. 6,539 students)

University of South Alabama vs. Salem State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of South Alabama or Salem State University?

  • University of South Alabama is 846.8% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($8,616.00 vs. $910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 144.4% higher at University of South Alabama than Salem State University ($17,232.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Alabama than Salem State University ($15,664 vs. $19,277)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Alabama are 75.7% lower than costs at Salem State University ($8,510 vs. $14,954)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than University of South Alabama (99% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Salem State University students is 11.4% larger than aid received University of South Alabama ($8,562 vs. $7,686)

University of South Alabama vs. Salem State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of South Alabama 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 University of South Alabama .

  • Accepted freshman University of South Alabama students have a 0.52 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Salem State University (3.17)
  • Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than University of South Alabama (65.4%)

University of South Alabama vs. Salem State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of South Alabama 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 University of South Alabama.

  • The graduation rate at Salem State University is higher than University of South Alabama (42% vs. 39%)
  • Graduates from University of South Alabama earn on average $800 more per year than Salem State University graduates after ten years. ($45,200 vs. $44,400)
  • Salem State University students graduate with a $500 lower median federal student loan debt than University of South Alabama graduates. ($24,000 vs. $24,500)
  • Salem State University graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than University of South Alabama graduates. ($248 vs. $253)
  • More Salem State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of South Alabama students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 45%)

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