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Salem State University

Salem State University is a public university in a large suburb of the Boston, MA metro with 4,853 students and a 96% acceptance rate.

Salem, Massachusetts · Public · Suburb, large · 4,853 students

NCAA Division III · Massachusetts State College Athletic AssociationEarly action Nov 15

Admission rate

96%

of applicants admitted

SAT, middle half

990–1160

25th to 75th percentile

Average net price

$15,996

per year, after grants

Graduation rate

50%

within 6 years

Freshman retention

74%

return for sophomore year

Median earnings

$56,662

10 years after entry

Students

4,853

total enrollment

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education (College Scorecard and IPEDS) · data snapshot October 2, 2026 · Updated October 2, 2026

First-year deadlines, 2026–27

PlanDeadline
Early action
Apply early, hear early, not binding.		November 15, 2026
Rolling admission
The college reviews applications as they arrive until the class is full.		Rolling

Plans are listed in calendar order. What the plans mean

Source: salemstate.edu · checked September 30, 2026

What families actually pay

Average yearly net price after grants, in-state students, by family income

$0–30,000$10,516
$30,001–48,000$13,870
$48,001–75,000$13,821
$75,001–110,000$17,590
Over $110,000$23,223

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, College Scorecard · data snapshot October 2, 2026

AP credit

Most-taken exams, lowest score that earns credit
ExamMin scoreSalem State University courseCredits
Biology3Biology BIO121 and BIO122
Chemistry3Chemistry CHE130
Psychology3Psychology PSY101
Statistics3Statistics MAT147
Environmental Science3Environmental Science BIO208
Human Geography3Human Geography GPH105
Spanish Language and Culture3Spanish Language SPN201
Music Theory3Music Theory MUS132N
Show all 22 exams and every score level
ExamMin scoreCourseCredits
Biology3Biology BIO121 and BIO122
Chemistry3Chemistry CHE130
Chemistry5Chemistry CHE130 and CHE131
Psychology3Psychology PSY101
Statistics3Statistics MAT147
Environmental Science3Environmental Science BIO208
Human Geography3Human Geography GPH105
Spanish Language and Culture3Spanish Language SPN201
Spanish Language and Culture3Spanish Literature SPN202
Spanish Language and Culture4Spanish Language SPN201 and SPN202
Spanish Language and Culture4Spanish Literature SPN202 and SPN353
Spanish Language and Culture5Spanish Language SPN201, SPN202 and SPN350
Spanish Language and Culture5Spanish Literature SPN202, SPN350 and SPN353
Music Theory3Music Theory MUS132N
Art3Art History ART100A
Art3Drawing Portfolio ART102
Art3Three-Dimensional ART203
Art3Two-Dimensional ART101
Calculus3Calculus AB MAT220
Calculus3Calculus BC MAT220 and MAT221
Chinese Language and Culture3Chinese Language CHI201
Chinese Language and Culture4Chinese Language CHI201 and CHI202
Chinese Language and Culture5Chinese Language CHI201, CHI202 and CHIT61
Computer Science3Computer Sci A CSC110 or ITE 210
Computer Science3Computer Sci AB CSC110 and CSC260
Computer Science3Principles CSC Free Elective
Economics3Macroeconomics ECO201
Economics3Microeconomics ECO202
English3
Eng. Lang and Comp. Credit may be granted for…Eng. Lang and Comp. Credit may be granted for ENL110 upon review. Writing portfolio submission required by August 25.
English4Eng. Lang and Comp. ENL110
English4Eng. Lit and Comp. ENLT61
French Language and Culture3French Language FRE201
French Language and Culture4French Language FRE201 and FRE202
French Language and Culture5French Language FRE201, FRE202 and FRET41
German Language and Culture3German Language GER201
German Language and Culture4German Language GER201 and GER202
German Language and Culture5German Language GER201, GER202 and GERT61
Govt and Politics3Comparative POL271
Govt and Politics3United States POL201
History3European HST269
History3United States HST204 and HST205
History3World History HST101 and HST102
Italian Language and Culture3Italian Language ITL201
Italian Language and Culture4Italian Language ITL201 and 202
Italian Language and Culture5Italian Language ITL201, ITL202 and ITLT61
Japanese Language and Culture3Japanese Language WLCT03
Japanese Language and Culture4Japanese Language WLCT03, WLCT04
Japanese Language and Culture5Japanese Language WLCT61
Latin3Latin Language LAT201
Latin4Latin Language LAT201 and LAT202
Latin5Latin Language LAT201, LAT202, LATT61
Physics3Phys C Elec & Magn PHS222
Physics3Phys C Mechanics PHS221
Physics3Physics B PHS211A and PHS212A

Source: salemstate.edu · checked September 19, 2026

Biggest majors

MajorGraduates
Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse174
Psychology88
Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement Administration80
Biology/Biological Sciences53
Business Administration and Management43
Social Work42
Education38
Early Childhood Education and Teaching36
Show the other 65 majors
Health/Health Care Administration/Management36
English Language and Literature33
Marketing/Marketing Management30
Finance28
Acting19
Accounting19
Computer and Information Sciences18
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions, Other17
Elementary Education and Teaching16
History13
Sport and Fitness Administration/Management12
Political Science and Government12
Exercise Science and Kinesiology11
Fire Services Administration11
Geography11
Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration11
Occupational Therapy/Therapist9
Parks, Recreation, and Leisure Studies9
Technical Theatre/Theatre Design and Technology9
Sociology9
Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies8
Commercial and Advertising Art7
Accounting and Finance7
Hospitality Administration/Management7
International Business/Trade/Commerce7
Information Technology7
Public Relations/Image Management6
Speech Communication and Rhetoric6
Applied Behavior Analysis6
Management Science6
Public/Applied History5
Journalism5
European History4
Nuclear Medical Technology/Technologist4
American Government and Politics (United States)4
Chemistry4
Mathematics4
General Studies4
Professional, Technical, Business, and Scientific Writing4
Spanish Language and Literature4
Painting3
Geology/Earth Science3
Humanities/Humanistic Studies3
Creative Writing3
Advertising3
Mass Communication/Media Studies3
American History (United States)2
Management Information Systems2
Art History, Criticism and Conservation2
Dance2
Geographic Information Science and Cartography2
Economics2
Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography2
Biochemistry2
Biomedical Sciences2
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution1
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness1
Playwriting and Screenwriting1
Directing and Theatrical Production1
Sculpture1
Printmaking1
Music1
Tourism and Travel Services Management1
French Language and Literature1
Italian Language and Literature1

Bachelor’s graduates, first major, most recent year · Source: U.S. Dept. of Education, IPEDS · data snapshot October 2, 2026

Sports and campus life

Men’s varsity · NCAA Division III, Massachusetts State College Athletic Association

Baseball, Basketball, Golf, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Tennis

Women’s varsity · NCAA Division III, Massachusetts State College Athletic Association

Basketball, Field Hockey, Ice Hockey, Lacrosse, Soccer, Softball, Tennis, Volleyball

ROTC

Air Force, Army

Faith groups

Hillel, InterVarsity, Newman Connection

Also

Study abroad

Sources: U.S. Dept. of Education athletics data (EADA), connection.newmanministry.com · checked September 4, 2026 · data snapshot October 2, 2026

The place

Setting

Suburb, large

Federal locale classification

Metro area

Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH

5,025,517 people

Big-city metro (1 million+)

Yes

More about the place

Nearest airport

General Edward Lawrence Logan International (BOS)

Nearest hub airport

General Edward Lawrence Logan International (BOS)

Walkability

EPA walkability index 14.8 of 20

Elevation

36 ft

Time zone

Eastern

January low

18°F

July high

80°F

Annual snowfall

39.1 in

Days at 90°F or higher

9 per year

One-bedroom fair market rent

$2,230 per month

Sources: U.S. Dept. of Education (IPEDS locale), U.S. Census metro estimates, NOAA climate normals, HUD fair market rents, EPA walkability · data snapshot October 2, 2026

Colleges nearby

Straight-line distance between campuses

Similar colleges

Public, suburban campus, NCAA Division III, similar size