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Bridgewater State Fitchburg State TROY Alabama Southern Community College Framingham State University The University of West Florida Westfield State University Auburn University of Alabama at Birmingham Bishop State Community College University of North Alabama University of Mobile| University of South Alabama | Salem State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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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 | ||
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| 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 | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 12:1 | ||
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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/