Salem State University vs. WPI

Should I go to Salem State University or Worcester Polytechnic Institute? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Salem State University or WPI is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Salem State University vs. Worcester Polytechnic Institute comparison
Salem State University Worcester Polytechnic Institute College 3 College 4
Salem State University Worcester Polytechnic Institute
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Overview

Salem State University WPI
Location Salem, MA Worcester, MA
Setting Large Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 6,539 7,308
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #733
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website salemstate.edu wpi.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Salem State University WPI
Tuition (In State) $910 $56,000
Tuition (Out of State) $7,050 $56,000
Room & Board $14,954 $16,544
Avg Net Price $19,277 $46,876
Avg Grant Aid $8,562 $27,059
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 96%

Admission

Salem State University WPI
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,093 11,599
Admitted 4,719 6,667
Acceptance Rate 92.7% 57.5%
Enrolled % 18.3% 20.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.17 3.9
Typical High School Grades B A-
Admissions Standards Moderate Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range
SAT Range 986/1210
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jun 1, 2024 Feb 15, 2024

Academics

Salem State University WPI
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Engineering (61%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • Computer and Information Sciences (9%)
  • General Studies (5%)
  • Business (4%)

Outcomes

Salem State University WPI
Graduation Rate 42% 76%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,400 $82,700
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 92%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $248 $279

Diversity

Salem State University WPI
% Men 31% 64%
% Women 69% 36%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 68% 63%
% Black 9% 2%
% Hispanic 12% 8%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 3%
% International 3% 12%
% Unknown Race 2% 6%

Students

Salem State University WPI
% In-State 90% 45%
% Out-of-State 8% 47%

Campus

Salem State University WPI
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility Yes No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute is larger than than Salem State University based on total student enrollment (7,308 students vs. 6,539 students)

Salem State University vs. WPI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Salem State University or WPI?

  • Worcester Polytechnic Institute is 6,053.8% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($56,000.00 vs. $910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 694.3% higher at WPI than Salem State University ($56,000.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Salem State University than WPI ($19,277 vs. $46,876)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Salem State University are 10.6% lower than costs at Worcester Polytechnic Institute ($14,954 vs. $16,544)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than Worcester Polytechnic Institute (99% vs. 96%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Worcester Polytechnic Institute students is 216% larger than aid received Salem State University ($27,059 vs. $8,562)

Salem State University vs. WPI Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Salem State University or WPI? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between WPI or Salem State University .

  • Accepted freshman WPI students have a 0.73 point higher average high school GPA (3.9) than students at Salem State University (3.17)
  • Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than WPI (57.5%)

Salem State University vs. WPI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Salem State University or WPI? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between WPI and Salem State University.

  • The graduation rate at WPI is higher than Salem State University (76% vs. 42%)
  • Graduates from Worcester Polytechnic Institute earn on average $38,300 more per year than Salem State University graduates after ten years. ($82,700 vs. $44,400)
  • Salem State University students graduate with a $3,000 lower median federal student loan debt than WPI graduates. ($24,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Salem State University graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than WPI graduates. ($248 vs. $279)
  • More WPI graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem State University students, three years after graduation. (92% vs. 63%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/