Home  /  Colleges  /  Salem State University

Salem State University
Admission Chances & Acceptance Rate

📍 Salem, MA🏛️ Public university📝 Test-optional

Located in Salem, Massachusetts, this public university enrolls about 6,500 students and has a 96% acceptance rate. Health professions and business are the dominant fields, accounting for nearly 40% of degrees. The 50% six-year graduation rate is notably low, and graduates earn a median of $57,000 a decade after entry, with typical federal debt around $25,000.

Acceptance rate
95.9%
Enrollment
6,539
Test policy
optional
Grad rate (6-yr)
50%

Will you get into Salem State University?

Enter your GPA, SAT & ACT and get your personal admission probability — free, no credit card.

Calculate my chances →

Admitted Student Profile

The middle 50% of admitted students (25th–75th percentile), self-reported by the school.

SAT (combined)
986 – 1210
ACT (composite)
Not published
GPA
Not published

$ What You'll Actually Pay

Average yearly net price after grants & scholarships, by family income (federal cohort averages — not a personal quote).

$0–30k
$10,516
family income
$30–48k
$13,870
family income
$48–75k
$13,821
family income
$75–110k
$17,590
family income
$110k+
$23,223
family income
35% receive Pell grants
49% take federal loans

Strongest Programs

The fields Salem State University graduates the most students in — a signal of depth, faculty, and alumni networks.

Health Professions
23.0%
Business & Marketing
16.2%
Psychology
9.0%
Criminal Justice
8.7%
Education
8.6%

Outcomes

School-level averages across all students who enrolled (College Scorecard). Not a personal forecast.

Earnings (10 yr)
$56,662
Earnings (6 yr)
$48,209
Completion
50%
Retention
75%
Median debt
$25,000

? Frequently Asked Questions

What is the acceptance rate at Salem State University?

Salem State University has an acceptance rate of 95.9%, making it relatively accessible.

What SAT score do you need for Salem State University?

The middle 50% of admitted students scored between 986 and 1210 on the SAT.

How much does Salem State University actually cost?

After grants and scholarships, the average net price for the lowest income band is $10,516 per year, rising to $23,223 for families earning $110k+. These are federal cohort averages, not a personal quote.

What are my chances of getting into Salem State University?

Your odds depend on how your GPA and test scores compare to admitted students, plus factors like major, residency, and early decision. UniversityOdds calculates a personalized probability for free — enter your stats to see yours.

See your real odds at Salem State University and ~50 top schools

UniversityOdds compares your profile to real admissions data — and tells you honestly when it's guessing.

Get my free odds →

Data sourced from IPEDS, the Common Data Set, and the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Acceptance probabilities calculated by UniversityOdds are estimates based on published academic data and are not a guarantee of admission. Net price figures are federal cohort averages, not personalized quotes — run the school's official net price calculator for your own estimate.