Salem State University
Salem, Massachusetts · Public · 95.9% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 58/100 · Below Average Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Salem State University (Salem, MA) scores 58 (Below Average Value), dragged down primarily by a 49.8% completion rate - only about half of students who enroll finish. Median 6-year earnings of $39,300 and a 9.4-year payback period are weak for a school charging $15,996 net price in one of the country's most expensive states. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.636 is high relative to outcomes. Nursing is the only program with genuinely strong returns; most other fields produce C+ or D grades, and performing arts hit F territory.
Salem State University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $12,338/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $19,531/yr |
| Average net price | $15,996/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $63,984 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $56,662 |
| Median earnings (6yr post-entry) | $39,300 |
| Median debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $265 |
| Estimated payback period | 9.4 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 49.8% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 4,291 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $12,338/year ($19,531/year out-of-state). Here's the part that matters - almost nobody pays that. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $15,996/year, or roughly $63,984 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $10,516/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $23,223/year.
Most students borrow to get here. The median graduate leaves owing $25,000 in federal loans, which works out to about $265 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Hold that up against the $56,662 the typical graduate earns ten years out: the debt-to-earnings ratio comes to 0.64, within the range advisors call workable but worth keeping an eye on.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $10,516 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $13,870 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $13,821 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $17,590 |
| $110,001+ | $23,223 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Low-income families (under $30,000) pay $10,516 per year - about $42,000 over four years. At this price, even moderate outcomes can work financially for completers. The completion rate risk is acute for low-income students, however: those who don't graduate face debt without the wage premium.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The $48,001-75,000 bracket pays $13,821 and the $75,001-110,000 bracket pays $17,590 per year. Middle-income families in Massachusetts seeking affordable four-year education will find Salem State among the lower-cost options, but the 49.8% completion rate and 9.4-year payback period should temper expectations.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning over $110,000 pay $23,223 per year - about $93,000 over four years. At that cost with median earnings of $39,300, high-income families are unlikely to choose SSU unless there is a compelling program or geographic reason. The nursing program remains the best case for any income band.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Salem State University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing | $95,550 | B |
| Psychology | $54,717 | D |
| Teacher Education | $56,509 | - |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $59,774 | C |
| Biology | $67,551 | C |
| Business Administration, Management, and Operations | $67,789 | C |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $55,323 | C |
| Social Work | $60,026 | C |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $92,380 | C+ |
| English Language and Literature | $43,621 | D |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Registered Nursing
Nursing (163 graduates) is Salem State's standout program: $80,641 at year one and $95,550 at year four, with a B ROI grade and 0.353 debt-to-earnings ratio. At a state university in the greater Boston metro - one of the country's strongest healthcare labor markets - nursing graduates from SSU are entering a field with high demand. This program is the clearest ROI case at the school.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences (29 graduates) earns $57,706 at year one and $92,380 at year four with a C+ ROI grade and 0.468 debt-to-earnings ratio. The four-year earnings of $92,000 reflect strong tech wages in the Boston market, but median debt of $27,000 and a C+ grade suggest the trajectory improves more slowly than at schools with stronger CS placement infrastructure.
Business Administration, Management, and Operations
Business Administration (50 graduates) earns $46,897 at year one and $67,789 at year four with a C ROI grade and 0.576 debt-to-earnings ratio. These outcomes are below what Salem State's proximity to Boston might suggest, and the C grade reflects a program that produces serviceable but not strong financial returns.
Psychology
Psychology is the largest program at 138 graduates and produces D-grade returns: $36,492 at year one, $54,717 at year four, with a 0.724 debt-to-earnings ratio. Year-one earnings of $36,492 are above local minimum wage but below what a four-year degree at $16,000 net price should return. Students pursuing psychology who need graduate school to reach target earnings are taking on additional cost not captured here.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Nat'l Avg |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 67.7% | 52.0% |
| 3-year repayment | 72.9% | 62.0% |
| 5-year repayment | 67.4% | 68.0% |
| 7-year repayment | 72.4% | 72.0% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Salem State University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2023).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 95.9% |
| Enrollment | 4,291 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 35.4% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $10,694 |
At 95.9% acceptance with no published test score requirements, Salem State functions as an open-access institution. This reflects its public mission to serve first-generation, working, and non-traditional students in the greater Boston area. The corollary is that academic preparation varies widely across the student body, which likely contributes to the low completion rate.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
Salem State's peer schools include Bridgewater State University and Fitchburg State University - similar Massachusetts public regional universities. Among this group, Salem State's 58 ROI score and 49.8% completion rate are on the weaker end. Bridgewater State University has a higher completion rate and comparable earnings outcomes. Students in eastern Massachusetts comparing public options should look at the full range of Massachusetts state universities before choosing based on campus proximity alone.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salem State University (this school) | 58 | $15,996 | $56,662 |
| Bridgewater State University | 59 | $16,383 | $57,466 |
| Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg | 59 | $23,330 | $63,435 |
| Fitchburg State University | 58 | $14,262 | $53,874 |
| University of Alaska Fairbanks | 52 | $10,892 | $48,866 |
| University of Massachusetts Global | 52 | $32,654 | $65,703 |
Who Thrives Here
Salem State admits 95.9% of applicants, making it effectively open-access - one of the highest acceptance rates among Massachusetts public universities. At 4,291 students with a 35.4% Pell grant rate, it serves a predominantly working-class and lower-middle-income population in the North Shore region. Students who are clear about a nursing or health-adjacent career will find solid value. Students entering without a specific vocational goal face meaningful risk given the 49.8% completion rate - nearly half of SSU students don't graduate within the standard timeframe.
The Verdict: Proceed With Caution
The money case for Salem State University is mixed, and worth a hard look before you commit. At $15,996 per year after aid, the typical graduate earns $56,662 ten years after entry, which means it takes about 9.4 years to earn the cost back - slower than most four-year schools. Whether it's worth it comes down to your major and your aid package.
What to keep an eye on: its 49.8% graduation rate, high debt relative to what graduates earn.
Median debt of $25,000 against $56,662 in earnings is reasonable, though your major matters a lot here. Graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.