College of the Atlantic vs. Salem State University

Should I go to College of the Atlantic or Salem State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if College of the Atlantic or Salem State University 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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College of the Atlantic vs. Salem State University comparison
College of the Atlantic Salem State University College 3 College 4
College of the Atlantic Salem State University
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Overview

College of the Atlantic Salem State University
Location Bar Harbor, ME Salem, MA
Setting Rural Fringe Large Suburban
Enrollment 380 6,539
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #733
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website coa.edu salemstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

College of the Atlantic Salem State University
Tuition (In State) $44,280 $910
Tuition (Out of State) $44,280 $7,050
Room & Board $9,870 $14,954
Avg Net Price $22,316 $19,277
Avg Grant Aid $32,602 $8,562
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 99%

Admission

College of the Atlantic Salem State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 486 5,093
Admitted 292 4,719
Acceptance Rate 60.1% 92.7%
Enrolled % 32.9% 18.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.69 3.17
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Unavailable Moderate
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range
SAT Range 986/1210
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2024 Jun 1, 2024

Academics

College of the Atlantic Salem State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • General Studies (100%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)

Outcomes

College of the Atlantic Salem State University
Graduation Rate 71% 42%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $28,200 $44,400
Making Student Loan Payments 75% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,750 $24,000
Median Loan Payment $204 $248

Diversity

College of the Atlantic Salem State University
% Men 32% 31%
% Women 68% 69%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 72% 68%
% Black 1% 9%
% Hispanic 4% 12%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 2% 3%
% International 17% 3%
% Unknown Race 1% 2%

Students

College of the Atlantic Salem State University
% In-State 4% 90%
% Out-of-State 73% 8%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Salem State University is larger than than College of the Atlantic based on total student enrollment (6,539 students vs. 380 students)

College of the Atlantic vs. Salem State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, College of the Atlantic or Salem State University?

  • College of the Atlantic is 4,765.9% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($44,280.00 vs. $910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 528.1% higher at College of the Atlantic than Salem State University ($44,280.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Salem State University than College of the Atlantic ($19,277 vs. $22,316)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at College of the Atlantic are 51.5% lower than costs at Salem State University ($9,870 vs. $14,954)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than College of the Atlantic (99% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by College of the Atlantic students is 280.8% larger than aid received Salem State University ($32,602 vs. $8,562)

College of the Atlantic vs. Salem State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman College of the Atlantic students have a 0.52 point higher average high school GPA (3.69) than students at Salem State University (3.17)
  • Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than College of the Atlantic (60.1%)

College of the Atlantic vs. Salem State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, College of the Atlantic or Salem State University? 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 Salem State University and College of the Atlantic.

  • The graduation rate at College of the Atlantic is higher than Salem State University (71% vs. 42%)
  • Graduates from Salem State University earn on average $16,200 more per year than College of the Atlantic graduates after ten years. ($44,400 vs. $28,200)
  • College of the Atlantic students graduate with a $4,250 lower median federal student loan debt than Salem State University graduates. ($19,750 vs. $24,000)
  • College of the Atlantic graduates are paying $44 less per month on federal student loans than Salem State University graduates. ($204 vs. $248)
  • More College of the Atlantic graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem State University students, three years after graduation. (75% vs. 63%)

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