Tuition, Cost & Aid
Affordability and Cost
Average Net Price Average net price for full-time, first-time degree/certificate-seeking undergraduates paying the in-state or in-district tuition rate who were awarded grant or scholarship aid from federal, state or local governments, or the institution. Other sources of grant aid are excluded. Aid awarded anytime during the full aid year is included.
Average net price is generated by subtracting the average amount of federal, state or local government, or institutional grant and scholarship aid from the total cost of attendance. Total cost of attendance is the sum of published tuition and required fees (lower of in-district or in-state), books and supplies and the weighted average room and board and other expenses.
Average net price is generated by subtracting the average amount of federal, state or local government, or institutional grant and scholarship aid from the total cost of attendance. Total cost of attendance is the sum of published tuition and required fees (lower of in-district or in-state), books and supplies and the weighted average room and board and other expenses.
$18,399
Average Net Price By Family Income
Tuition
| In-State Tuition In-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who meet the state's or institution's residency requirements. In-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students residing in the locality in which they attend school and may be a lower rate than in-state tuition if offered by the institution. | $11,978 |
| Out-of-State Tuition Out-of-state tuition is the tuition charged by institutions to those students who do not meet the state's or institution's residency requirements. Out-of-district tuition is the tuition charged by the institution to those students not residing in the locality in which they attend school. | $18,961 |
Additional Costs
Room and Board The weighted average for room and board and other expenses is generated as follows:
| $14,954 |
| Books and Supplies | $1,200 |
| Tuition Payment Plan | Yes |
Financial Aid: visit page
Financial Aid Email: [email protected]
Aid & Grants
0
100
58%
Need Met
Students Receiving Gift Aid Percent of undergraduate students awarded federal gift aid. Federal gift aid includes any grant or scholarship aid awarded, from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution. Students Receiving Grants Percent of undergraduate students awarded grant aid. Grant aid includes any grant or scholarship aid awarded, from the federal government, a state or local government, the institution, and other sources known by the institution. Students receiving state aid Students receiving federal aid
37%
Average Aid Per Year
$6,775
37%
Average Federal Grant Aid Per Year
$5,027
Average Institution Grant Aid Per Year
$2,767
53%
Average State Grant Aid Per Year
$3,006
46%
Average Federal Grant Aid Per Year
$5,027
Total Needs Based Scholarships/Grants Total amount of grant or scholarship aid awarded to all undergraduates from the federal government, state/local government, the institution, and other sources known to the institution.
$19,711,172
Total Non-Need-Based Scholarships/Grants
$6,604,655
Student Loans
Students Borrowing Loans Loans to students - Any monies that must be repaid to the lending institution for which the student is the designated borrower. Includes all Title IV subsidized and unsubsidized loans and all institutionally- and privately-sponsored loans. Does not include PLUS and other loans made directly to parents.
78%
Average Loan Amount Per Year
$7,746
Students receiving federal loans
77%
Average Federal Loans Per Year
$5,329
Average Other Loans Per Year
$11,766
Average Debt at Graduation The median federal debt of undergraduate borrowers who graduated. This figure includes only federal loans; it excludes private student loans and Parent PLUS loans.
$19,000
Loan Default Rate
6%
US National: 7%
Median Monthly Loan Payment The median monthly loan payment for student borrowers who completed, if it were repaid over 10 years at a 5.05% interest rate.
$239
What Students Are Saying
Just because Salem State College is a state school, doesn't mean that you aren't going to learn anything. Although the tuition is cheaper than other colleges, it is not cheap. Salem State makes sure that you get more than your money's worth. It allows students to be themselves and take different classes that may interest them, until they find out what major they want to pursue. Salem State offers many different types of majors, including education, nursing, business, and criminal justice. There is something for everyone. At Salem State College, you get your money's worth for your education.
Hayley from Methuen, MA
One of the biggest things that drew me to Salem State was it's price and very richly awarding financial aid. The school is fairly cheap for a state school and isn't going to run you into the ground with hundreds of thousands dollars in debt when you graduate. The financial aid packages are very large as long as you apply for them on time, and I personally only have had to pay a maximum of 600 a semester from my own pocket. Considering that the staff is very helpful and the atmosphere of the campus is so nice and friendly, I find that this school is really a bang for the buck. They also have the 'Rent-A-Text' program with their school books, so a majority of your books you can rent so you're not paying $1000 and up every semester for books alone. The only complaint I have is that, at least in Peabody Hall (a freshmen dormitory), some of the Resident Assistants are very unhelpful when you need help with a problem you're having and it's very difficult to get to the right people if you're having a situation with your room mate that needs to be handled by one of the authorities of the building. Also, there has been constant construction going on right outside of Peabody Hall so if you're in Peabody, you're usually woken up at seven in the morning by loud, headache-inducing jack hammering outside of your window.
The only other problem is that the campuses are far away from each other. If you're a freshman, you will be on North Campus in either Peabody or Bowditch hall, and if you get classes on South Campus - that's a good 15 to 20 minute walk away which seems even longer in the freezing cold/rain. Salem State offers shuttle services to get between North, Central, and South campuses but they are not anywhere near 100% reliable and sometimes you'll be out waiting for a shuttle for over a half hour and end up late to your class because the shuttle took forever to show up.
The only other problem is that the campuses are far away from each other. If you're a freshman, you will be on North Campus in either Peabody or Bowditch hall, and if you get classes on South Campus - that's a good 15 to 20 minute walk away which seems even longer in the freezing cold/rain. Salem State offers shuttle services to get between North, Central, and South campuses but they are not anywhere near 100% reliable and sometimes you'll be out waiting for a shuttle for over a half hour and end up late to your class because the shuttle took forever to show up.
Ashley from Springfield, MA
When I was applying to colleges I was not quite aware of the huge expense that it was going to be. I started out by applying and touring all private out of state schools and then soon realized that it just was not worth the inevitable lifetime of debt that I would be placing myself in. When I heard of Salem and the great academics I immediately was interested in touring. The campus is really nice and everything that I have experienced here is nothing short of what my friends are experiencing at their private schools. The difference however will come out after we graduate when I do not have tons of loans to pay off and they all do. I am receiving a great education at a wonderful university and am not paying an insane amount of money to do so.
Kelsey from Clarksburg, MA
Salem State is very affordable, and they offer great financial aid packages for a state school. The classes are informative and thorough. You definitely get your money's worth with the classes here, and they don't charge you more if you take extra classes.
Elizabeth from Charlton, MA
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