University of Southern Maine vs. Salem State University

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

University of Southern Maine Salem State University
Location Portland, ME Salem, MA
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 7,583 6,539
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #757 #733
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website maine.edu salemstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

University of Southern Maine Salem State University
Tuition (In State) $8,064 $910
Tuition (Out of State) $22,680 $7,050
Room & Board $10,924 $14,954
Avg Net Price $12,343 $19,277
Avg Grant Aid $9,668 $8,562
% Receiving Grant Aid 96% 99%

Admission

University of Southern Maine Salem State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,544 5,093
Admitted 4,736 4,719
Acceptance Rate 85.4% 92.7%
Enrolled % 15.9% 18.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.33 3.17
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Moderate Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 19/26
SAT Range 998/1220 986/1210
Submit Test Scores Required to be considered for admission Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jun 1, 2025

Academics

University of Southern Maine Salem State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 14:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Social Sciences (17%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Communication (10%)
  • Visual and Performing Arts (5%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)

Outcomes

University of Southern Maine Salem State University
Graduation Rate 33% 42%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $42,600 $44,400
Making Student Loan Payments 64% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $22,500 $24,000
Median Loan Payment $232 $248

Diversity

University of Southern Maine Salem State University
% Men 37% 31%
% Women 63% 69%
Racial Diversity Very Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 82% 68%
% Black 4% 9%
% Hispanic 2% 12%
% Native American 1% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 1% 3%
% Unknown Race 5% 2%

Students

University of Southern Maine Salem State University
% In-State 72% 90%
% Out-of-State 27% 8%

Campus

University of Southern Maine 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 Southern Maine is larger than than Salem State University based on total student enrollment (7,583 students vs. 6,539 students)

University of Southern Maine vs. Salem State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, University of Southern Maine or Salem State University?

  • University of Southern Maine is 786.2% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($8,064.00 vs. $910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 221.7% higher at University of Southern Maine than Salem State University ($22,680.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of Southern Maine than Salem State University ($12,343 vs. $19,277)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Southern Maine are 36.9% lower than costs at Salem State University ($10,924 vs. $14,954)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than University of Southern Maine (99% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Southern Maine students is 12.9% larger than aid received Salem State University ($9,668 vs. $8,562)

University of Southern Maine vs. Salem State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, University of Southern Maine 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 Southern Maine .

  • Accepted freshman University of Southern Maine students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.33) than students at Salem State University (3.17)
  • Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than University of Southern Maine (85.4%)

University of Southern Maine vs. Salem State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, University of Southern Maine 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 Southern Maine.

  • The graduation rate at Salem State University is higher than University of Southern Maine (42% vs. 33%)
  • Graduates from Salem State University earn on average $1,800 more per year than University of Southern Maine graduates after ten years. ($44,400 vs. $42,600)
  • University of Southern Maine students graduate with a $1,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Salem State University graduates. ($22,500 vs. $24,000)
  • University of Southern Maine graduates are paying $16 less per month on federal student loans than Salem State University graduates. ($232 vs. $248)
  • More University of Southern Maine graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem State University students, three years after graduation. (64% vs. 63%)

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