Salem State vs Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU)

Salem State University and Southern Connecticut State University, both esteemed public universities in their respective states, offer distinct educational experiences. Salem State, located just north of Boston, boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for prospective students. Southern Connecticut, situated in New Haven, is known for its rigorous academic programs, reflected in its lower acceptance rate. While both universities offer a diverse range of majors, Salem State excels in fields like nursing, education, and business, while Southern Connecticut shines in areas such as engineering, computer science, and social sciences. Explore the detailed comparison table to delve into further differences, including student body demographics, graduation rates, and more, to determine which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
Salem State University logo

Salem State University

Southern Connecticut State University logo

Southern Connecticut State University

Overview

Location Salem, Massachusetts New Haven, Connecticut
Campus setting Suburb: Large City: Midsize
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 75.0% 72.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 90.0% 82.9%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $50
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 6,287 7,294
Total number of admissions given out 5,659 6,049
Admitted students who chose to enroll 939 1,022
Yield rate 16.6% 16.9%
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: $27,123

Out of state: $33,928
In state: $26,686

Out of state: $40,090
Average net price $18,125 $18,493
Tuition
In state: $910

Out of state: $7,050
In state: $6,162

Out of state: $18,436
Room & board $14,590
Room/dormitory: $7,438

Meal plan: $6,228
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

91.0%
Average amount $7,673
94.0%
Average amount $6,478
Students receiving federal student loan 67.0%
Average amount $4,984
68.0%
Average amount $5,267
Students taking out private loans 10.0%
Average amount $12,948
7.0%
Average amount $12,508

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 5,555
Men 34.5% Women 65.5%
6,800
Men 37.5% Women 62.5%
Graduate students 1,576
Men 21.8% Women 78.2%
1,988
Men 24.7% Women 75.3%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A 9.4%
International students 2.5% 1.1%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large City: Midsize
Dormitory capacity 1,928 2,509
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from New York New Hampshire Connecticut Rhode Island Vermont Connecticut New York Mississippi New Jersey Georgia

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Psychology
  • Public Administration and Social Service
Students to faculty ratio 13:1 12:1
Institutional accreditation New England Commission on Higher Education New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 56.8% 52.3%
Dropout rate 40.8% 14.7%
Transferred out N/A 30.6%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
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
Educational Administration and Supervision (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: $73,779
  • Year 2: $75,072
  • Year 3: $81,441
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $73,460
  • Year 2: $71,015
  • Year 3: $74,943
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $63,714
  • Year 2: $64,706
  • Year 3: $73,822
Public Health (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $54,286
  • Year 2: $53,358
  • Year 3: $62,933
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $62,930
  • Year 2: $58,221
  • Year 3: $60,874
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,046
  • Year 2: $56,415
  • Year 3: $55,879
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Graduate/Professional Certificates)
  • Year 1: $57,138
  • Year 2: $57,318
  • Year 3: $55,763
Social Work (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $48,671
  • Year 2: $50,263
  • Year 3: $54,461
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $53,775
  • Year 3: $53,125
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $52,635
  • Year 2: $54,032
  • Year 3: $52,600

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