Salem State University

Salem State University: Academics, Admissions & Tuition Info

Learn about Salem State University. Read about its admission requirements, financial aid and degree programs to make an informed decision about your education.

About Salem State University

Salem State University is a 4-year, public school located in the city of Salem, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1854 as Salem Normal School, with the goal of educating young women for teaching professions. The school grew in size and popularity until it became Salem Teachers College in 1932 and then Salem State College in 1968, after the addition of a liberal arts program.

Students who attend Salem State have the opportunity to participate in more than 50 different campus-based clubs and organizations. Salem State also has 17 different varsity teams for student athletes to participate in. Freshmen who live on-campus will be in one of two residence halls populated exclusively with other freshman students. The university also has a sophomore hall and two apartment style complexes for juniors and seniors.

Academics

Salem State University offers a variety of degree programs between its different schools and colleges. Undergraduates may choose programs from the Bertolon School of Business, the College of Arts and Sciences, or the College of Health and Human Services. Salem State also offers programs through its School of Graduate Studies and School of Continuing and Professional Studies. Health care, social services, and social sciences are all popular fields of study at Salem State University.

Salem State has an overall graduation rate that is above 40%, and more than 70% of its freshmen return for their second year. The school employs more than 300 full-time faculty members who have doctorate degrees, and nearly 450 part-time faculty members who have master's degrees.

Admissions

To apply, students should submit the online application along with a $40 application fee, official high school transcripts and standardized test scores. Applicants should be high school graduates who have completed required college prep courses.

Salem State considers an applicant's grades and standardized test scores on a sliding scale. For example, a student with a GPA of 3.0 would only need to score 880 or higher on the combined critical reading and math sections of the SAT, or a composite ACT score of 18. However, a student with a GPA between 2.21 and 2.3 would need to score a combined SAT score of 1040 or a composite ACT score of 22 to be considered for admission. Specific programs within the school, such as nursing and criminal justice, have higher admission requirements.

Tuition and Financial Aid

In the 2011-2012 school year, tuition for a first-year undergraduate at Salem State University was under $8,000 per year for an in-state student. Out-of-state students paid over $13,800. In the same year, books and supplies costs were roughly $900, and students living on campus paid over $11,000 for room and board, plus an additional $1,660 in other living expenses.

Salem State also offers institutional scholarships for eligible students. One application is sufficient to apply for a number of different Salem State scholarships. In the 2010-2011 school year, more than 80% of first-time Salem State students qualified for some type of financial aid, and more than half qualified for institutional aid from Salem State. The average scholarship award from the school was $1,788. Students can also apply for federal aid as well as grants through the state of Massachusetts.

SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY QUICK FACTS
School Type	4-year, public**
Degrees Offered	Bachelor's, master's, post-baccalaureate certificate, post-master's certificate**
Religious Affiliation	None**
Academic Calendar	Semester***
School Setting	Large suburb**
Student Body	9,646 (7,704 undergraduate)**
Student Housing	2 first-year resident halls, 1 sophomore resident hall, 2 upperclassman apartment complexes*
ACADEMICS
Schools and Programs	2 colleges, 3 schools, 29 majors and 59 minors*
Student-Faculty Ratio	15 to 1**
Most Popular Fields of Study by Degree Level (Number of Recipients)	In 2010-2011: bachelor's: registered nursing/registered nurse (227), master's: social work (78)**
Undergraduate Graduation Rates	In 6 years: 42%**
ADMISSIONS
Admission Rate	In 2011: 57%**
Entering Class Size	In 2011: 994***
First-Year Retention Rates	In 2011: full-time: 73%, part-time: 58%**
Average SAT Score of Admitted Students	In 2010-2011: SAT math and critical reading combined: 997*
Application Due Date	April 15th*
Decision Notification Date	On a rolling basis beginning December 1st*
TUITION & FINANCIAL AID
Tuition (2011)	In-state: $7,670, out-of-state:$13,810**
Financial Aid Sources Available (Percent of Students Receiving it)	In 2010-2011: federal grants (37%), state and local grants and scholarships (41%), institutional grants and scholarships (54%), student loans (69%)**
Percent of Students Receiving Some Form of Aid	In 2010-2011: 82%**

Sources: *Salem State University, **National Center for Education Statistics, ***IPEDS Data Center.

School Contact Information

Address: Office of Admissions, Salem State University, 352 Lafayette Street, Salem, MA 01970
Phone: (978) 542-6000
Website: www.salemstate.edu