Salem State vs Purchase College

Salem State University and SUNY at Purchase College, two distinct institutions with unique offerings, stand ready to welcome prospective students. Salem State, rooted in Salem, Massachusetts, boasts an acceptance rate of 84%, while SUNY Purchase, nestled in Purchase, New York, maintains a slightly lower acceptance rate of 79%. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with Salem State excelling in fields like nursing, education, and social work, and SUNY Purchase shining in the arts, design, and media. While Salem State's student body primarily comprises Massachusetts residents, SUNY Purchase attracts a more diverse population from across the nation and the globe. With graduation rates of 59% and 63% respectively, both universities are committed to supporting students in achieving their academic goals. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more about these institutions and make an informed decision that aligns with your aspirations and preferences.
Salem State University logo

Salem State University

SUNY at Purchase College logo

SUNY at Purchase College

Overview

Location Salem, Massachusetts Purchase, New York
Campus setting Suburb: Large 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 75.0% 79.0%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 90.0% 75.4%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $50
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $85
SAT range N/A 1120 - 1320
ACT range N/A 27 - 31
Students submitting SAT score 12.0%
Students submitting ACT score 2.0%
Total number of applicants 6,287 4,047
Total number of admissions given out 5,659 3,052
Admitted students who chose to enroll 939 680
Yield rate 16.6% 22.3%
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: $28,661

Out of state: $38,571
Average net price $18,125 $19,458
Tuition
In state: $910

Out of state: $7,050
In state: $7,070

Out of state: $16,980
Room & board $14,590
Room/dormitory: $9,098

Meal plan: $5,450
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

91.0%
Average amount $7,673
76.0%
Average amount $8,868
Students receiving federal student loan 67.0%
Average amount $4,984
40.0%
Average amount $5,040
Students taking out private loans 10.0%
Average amount $12,948
3.0%
Average amount $12,471

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 5,555
Men 34.5% Women 65.5%
3,439
Men 41.1% Women 58.9%
Graduate students 1,576
Men 21.8% Women 78.2%
83
Men 51.8% Women 48.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Low
Moderate
Out-of-state students N/A 16.2%
International students 2.5% 1.9%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 1,928 2,270
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 New York New Jersey Connecticut Florida Mississippi

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Liberal Arts
  • Communication and Journalism
  • Social Sciences
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Students to faculty ratio 13:1 13:1
Institutional accreditation New England Commission on Higher Education Middle States Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 56.8% 63.5%
Dropout rate 40.8% 12.0%
Transferred out N/A 23.1%
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
Mathematics and Statistics, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $48,041
  • Year 3: $52,996
Visual and Performing Arts, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $35,399
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: $50,881
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $25,852
  • Year 2: $28,236
  • Year 3: $41,970
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $23,844
  • Year 2: $23,693
  • Year 3: $41,354
Journalism (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $26,684
  • Year 2: $30,305
  • Year 3: $37,885
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $25,288
  • Year 2: $26,482
  • Year 3: $36,161
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $23,080
  • Year 2: $30,047
  • Year 3: $33,268
Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $28,859
  • Year 2: $30,475
  • Year 3: $32,388
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $24,933
  • Year 2: $26,933
  • Year 3: $31,949
Literature (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $20,339
  • Year 2: $21,234
  • Year 3: $30,297

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