Founded in 1854, Salem State University. is a Public college. Located in Massachusetts, which is a city setting in Massachusetts, the campus itself is Suburban. The campus is home to 7,346 full time undergraduate students, and 1,655 full time graduate students.
The Salem State University Academic calendar runs on a Semester basis. In the school year the student to faculty ratio was 15:1. There are 349 full time instructional teachers. Degrees awarded at Salem State University include: Bachelor's Degree, Masters Degree, Post-master's certificate, Doctor's degree.
Quick Facts
Acceptance Rate
73%
Application Deadline
Application Fee
40
SAT Range
890-1090
ACT Range
19-25
Admissions at are considered Selective, with ,17% of all applicants being admitted.
In the school year, of the students who applied to the school, only 19 of those who were admitted eventually ended up enrolling.
0% of incoming freshmen are in the top half of their high school class. 0% were in the top quarter, and 0% were in the top tenth. You can apply online.
STUDENT LIFE Reviews
We asked, and students answered these important questions about student life at Salem State University.
3%
“We”re apathetic”
17%
“We know about current events and vote”
67%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
14%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
3%
“We save it for the classroom”
19%
“Sometimes, but not often”
64%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
14%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
3%
“I only go out in groups”
53%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
44%
“I feel extremely safe”
38%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
50%
“We bought the gear”
12%
“We live for the big game”
0%
“It”s not really our thing”
18%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
41%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
41%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
3%
“Available in class”
72%
“They keep regular office hours”
25%
“They”re always available”
3%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
58%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
36%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
3%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
6%
“We”re not into drinking at all”
22%
“Maybe a little, but it”s not a big thing”
33%
“We only party on weekends”
39%
“There”s some drinking happening every night”
11%
“Never, we”re here to learn”
36%
“There might be people who do”
44%
“People are known to partake on weekends”
8%
“There”s a huge drug scene”
3%
“We”re apathetic”
17%
“We know about current events and vote”
67%
“We participate and encourage others to get involved”
14%
“There”s nothing we won”t protest”
3%
“We save it for the classroom”
19%
“Sometimes, but not often”
64%
“There”s usually intelligent conversation to be found”
14%
“All the time, including weekends”
0%
“I”m always terrified”
3%
“I only go out in groups”
53%
“I usually let someone know where I”m going”
44%
“I feel extremely safe”
38%
“We don”t play sports”
0%
“We play recreationally”
50%
“We bought the gear”
12%
“We live for the big game”
0%
“It”s not really our thing”
18%
“Occasinally we gallery crawl”
41%
“There are a variety of opportunities”
41%
“We”re a very artistic group”
0%
“Haven”t met them”
3%
“Available in class”
72%
“They keep regular office hours”
25%
“They”re always available”
3%
“No greek life, but other groups to join”
58%
“There is some involvement, but not a lot”
36%
“Plenty of people join a sorority or fraternity”
3%
“It”s everything. If you”re not greek, you”re a geek”
89 Students rated on-campus housing 3.3 stars. 7 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate off-campus housing?
72 Students rated off-campus housing 3 stars. 0 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus food?
99 Students rated campus food 2.7 stars. 7 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate campus facilities?
99 Students rated campus facilities 3.7 stars. 26 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate class size?
99 Students rated class size 4.3 stars. 49 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate school activities?
99 Students rated school activities 3.4 stars. 17 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate local services?
99 Students rated local services 4.1 stars. 38 % gave the school a 5.0.
How would you rate academics?
100 Students rated academics 4 stars. 38 % gave the school a 5.0.
Salem State University REVIEWS
What's your overall opinion of Salem State University?
44 Students rated Salem State University
Matt - 11/05/2024
Salem State University is the greatest school to attend for your first degree and for furthering education if you wish. I have developed much expertise in my field of studies and acquired a vast network of connections. I truly feel this place is a second home for me to cherish throughout my life and it will be a testament of time.
Michael - 08/26/2024
Great school especially on a budget! The class sizes are small and the school is located in a good area for commuter students with shopping, food, and other ways to kill time between classes. I am not super far from campus so it is a school that is located north of boston. As someone who hates the traffic in Boston it is nice to avoid it.
Owen - 08/13/2021
Salem State is a great well rounded state school. It has a variety of opportunities on and off campus for students to regularly explore themselves and the city of Salem. Overall life on and around campus is pretty safe and there are endless fun activities to partake in on campus and around the city.
John - 08/09/2020
Salem State gave me another chance at college. I find it much better and easier to attend than my previous university due to the smaller sizes of classes, bigger focus on education, and well-being of students. Here, everyone has the chance to succeed with all the available resources and availability of resources. Not many people take advantage of these at other schools, but since it is a small school, there's always time to get in. I've had a much better experience here inside the classroom than any other school and university I have been too.
Rebecca - 04/09/2020
I feel that the university offers a great education at an affordable price. I have had a lot of issues in the past with the resident's life staff. They were unwelcoming and did not put the student's safety first. I feel that the major areas that need improvements are staffing for resident programs and housing, university police, and parking availability.
Andrew - 02/05/2020
I think it's a much better school than people say or think. Most that have a negative opinion have never even been there. The tuition is one of the most affordable in the state and quality of the education is great. Like anything you get out of it what you put into it. Many teachers taught me well and offered me great advice.
Emily - 02/02/2020
Honestly, it's not the worst school in the world but it definitely could be better. I only really am attending because it was the cheapest option of the three I had in mind. However I really love the academics, it's just the people could be a bit friendlier. its a troop to get to downtown because its a 30-minute walk and the buses don't run often. But there's a 15-minute walking/biking path to the ocean which is nice as well as a dining hall open for 24 hours.
Madison - 11/23/2019
I think Salem State University is a fantastic school with amazing people and great opportunities. The small-city atmosphere is perfect for someone who wants a bit of business but grew up in suburbs. The multiple campuses are in walking distance, which makes it a great campus if a student doesn't have a car. There are multiple residence halls, making the community here very involved. The resources on campus are amazing as well, as we have 3 dining halls and plenty of organizations to help student growth.
Jaii - 11/21/2019
It’s a good school like any school they need work. Overall they’re not bad for a state school. 4 years go by quick. The professors are caring , they’re available. Some of them are just awful but those are far and few in between. The others are amazing and they’ll really become great mentors.
Pa - 07/23/2019
Salem State University is a beautiful campus. If you get involved in the school, you can make your college experience more fun and worth it. There are many resources, staff, and facilitators, who are always there to help you emotionally and physically.
michael - 06/25/2019
We will have parking opening up nearby. It's a large lot and a literal 3-minute walk to campus. Please reach out at [email protected] to reserve your space for the semester or year round.
Michael - 05/28/2019
It is a very good academic school. Every professor I have had has really cared about the students and are immensely helpful and available. The biggest complaint I hear is in the food, which is being overhauled this year. Definitely a school to look into if you favor your learning.
Samantha - 05/27/2019
Salem State University's strongest suit is diversity, and is among one of the most individualistic cities in the Boston area. This correlation between the multitudes of unique activities and conversational people allows residents to explore themselves, as well as give them the chance to create new incredible experiences to learn and grow from. This school truly is dedicated to giving its students opportunities to enjoy campus life, but the professors on the academic side of things really do push us to be the best we can and encourage us daily, in or out of class, and that takes the cake overall.
Ishwar - 04/18/2019
great school it is very underrated. This school is a great size, there are many beautiful spots on and off campus. The gym is very nice and free for students. Also, the classes are small with most being around 15-25 students which is very helpful because you are able to have better conversations with your professor and just have a better educational experience in general. Overall this is a really great school possible one of the top state schools.
Cindy - 02/20/2019
I really loved the diversity of the student population, it lead to a diverse views and opinions in and out of the classroom. There were a of non-traditional college students and many commuted. That made it challenging for campus life and finding a community of people to hang out with. I really did enjoy my experience there and really appreciate the Campus Educators on Sexual Assault group that did a lot of prevention work too.
The fall 2020 acceptance rate for Salem State University is 73%. That means, out of _____ applications received in 2020, _____ students were offered admission.
What should every freshman at your school know before they start?
All I wanted to do as a High School senior was get out of school as fast as I could. I held an image of college in my mind of people paying thousands of dollars to party, meet the love of there life, and then graduate only to struggle to pay off their educational loans later. My perception of what it means to go to college was completley different than reality.
Four years after graduating high school I was sick of my dead end job and chose to return to college. My first year at school showed how wrong my perception was. School is more than an exuberant cost, it is the opportunity to find yourselfe. In the year that I have been at Salem State University I have found a career field that excites me, great friends, and how strong of a leader I can be.
My advice to high school me would be to sprint towards college not away from it. Take every opportunity that presents itselfe. In the end you will be amazed by how much you are capeable of.
What do you consider the worst thing about your school? Why?
The parking. The is not enough parking on campus, and because there are not enough dorms on campus, this has become a 'commuter school'. Finding parking is awful, especially since the largest parking lot is by the O'Keefe Gymnasium, but when it rains in the area, the parking lot tends to flood.
Here's your chance: Say anything about your college!
Salem State College is a big commuter school. I really only looked into it for the nursing program. It is known for its nursing program and they keep they're students very interested. It wasn't as expensive as other schools that I had looked at. So with the great nursing program reputation and the not so expensive tuition,I decided this would be the best school for me.
The culture of the school is very diverse. Commuting to the school is very easy. At night it is very quiet, so studying at night will not be a problem. The library is open until midnight, Monday through Thursday. The school is located next to convenient stores, easy to get snacks and other materials. Salem State College just became Salem State University, and since the college is a public school, the college bill is cheap.
What kind of person should not attend this school?
I think this school fits all personality types. Students should really consider their major and check out the programs Salem State offers for that major.
What's the most frustrating thing about your school?
The parking really is the most frustrating. Since there are not enough spaces for residents and commuters. Also computer labs are enough and half the time computers are broken.
What is the stereotype of students at your school? Is this stereotype accurate?
Because Salem State University has a reputation for being easy to get into, the stereotype of SSU students is that they aren't very bright, and aren't going to go anywhere in life. There definitely are some students here who seem "below-average" in terms of intelligence, but over all, students here are politically aware, and know plenty of general knowledge.
Salem state is people friendly and very accommodating to all of its students. Righr from the first day of orientation, meeting with the seniors who and juniors who gave us tours of the school and introduced us to all the buildings. They told us where to go to when we need something and all that. However, good as this may be, Salem state does not exactly have the best reputation for being a top top school. I had no idea of this, being an international student. Even though, I like the people and the environment, I want education and if possible I want the best I can possibly get. So, salem state is good..but not good enough for my standards.
All students must apply yearly for financial aid. This process starts with the FAFSA.
Though financial aid deadlines vary by school, it is a good idea to apply as soon as possible. For the upcoming school year, you can apply as early as October 1 for the FAFSA. Additional school aid will be dependent on the FAFSA results.
89% of students attending Salem State University receive some sort of financial aid.
41% were awarded federal grants.78%received federal loans. Many students do also need to apply for additional private student loans.