Salem State vs Plymouth State

Salem State University and Plymouth State University, both esteemed public universities in Massachusetts, offer distinct educational experiences. Salem State, located just north of Boston, boasts a diverse student body and a strong focus on liberal arts and sciences. Plymouth State, situated in the charming town of Plymouth, excels in STEM fields and offers a variety of hands-on learning opportunities. With different acceptance rates, popular majors, student demographics, and graduation rates, these universities cater to diverse student needs. Explore our comprehensive comparison table to discover which institution aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Plymouth State University logo

Plymouth State University

Salem State University logo

Salem State University

Overview

Location Plymouth, New Hampshire Salem, Massachusetts
Campus setting Town: Remote Suburb: Large
College type 4 year 4 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate and Graduate Undergraduate and Graduate
Students retention rate 64.0% 75.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 91.7% 90.0%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $75
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $50
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants 6,856 6,287
Total number of admissions given out 6,285 5,659
Admitted students who chose to enroll 936 939
Yield rate 14.9% 16.6%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Not required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $29,804

Out of state: $39,744
In state: $27,123

Out of state: $33,928
Average net price $20,145 $18,125
Tuition
In state: $11,870

Out of state: $21,810
In state: $910

Out of state: $7,050
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $7,600

Meal plan: $3,980
$14,590
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

98.0%
Average amount $8,983
91.0%
Average amount $7,673
Students receiving federal student loan 79.0%
Average amount $5,237
67.0%
Average amount $4,984
Students taking out private loans 20.0%
Average amount $14,585
10.0%
Average amount $12,948

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 3,536
Men 50.5% Women 49.5%
5,555
Men 34.5% Women 65.5%
Graduate students 688
Men 28.2% Women 71.8%
1,576
Men 21.8% Women 78.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Low
Out-of-state students 7.5% N/A
International students 1.6% 2.5%
Campus local/setting Town: Remote Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 2,561 1,928
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from New Hampshire Mississippi Maine Rhode Island Vermont New York New Hampshire Connecticut Rhode Island Vermont

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Business
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Students to faculty ratio 18:1 13:1
Institutional accreditation New England Commission on Higher Education New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 53.3% 56.8%
Dropout rate 46.3% 40.8%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $66,018
  • Year 2: $67,324
  • Year 3: $64,283
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $64,582
  • Year 2: $60,771
  • Year 3: $59,378
Marketing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,910
  • Year 2: $47,729
  • Year 3: $58,866
Finance and Financial Management Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $48,913
  • Year 2: $42,682
  • Year 3: $52,559
Accounting and Related Services (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $51,273
  • Year 3: $50,116
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,539
  • Year 2: $40,209
  • Year 3: $49,163
Student Counseling and Personnel Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,327
  • Year 2: $39,909
  • Year 3: $47,493
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $44,058
  • Year 2: $41,565
  • Year 3: $46,029
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $34,875
  • Year 2: $37,748
  • Year 3: $45,246
Curriculum and Instruction (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,784
  • Year 2: $47,260
  • Year 3: $45,102
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,461
  • Year 2: $67,660
  • Year 3: $81,500
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,690
  • Year 2: $69,261
  • Year 3: $74,129
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,511
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $69,206
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $90,183
  • Year 2: $71,854
  • Year 3: $64,195
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,356
  • Year 2: $59,124
  • Year 3: $61,164
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,191
  • Year 2: $54,855
  • Year 3: $59,882
Social Work (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,049
  • Year 2: $50,606
  • Year 3: $53,563
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $48,859
  • Year 2: $48,302
  • Year 3: $52,492
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,960
  • Year 2: $47,729
  • Year 3: $51,920
Chemistry (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,346
  • Year 2: $45,696
  • Year 3: $51,685

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