Salem State University vs. NSU

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

Salem State University NSU
Location Salem, MA Norfolk, VA
Setting Large Suburban Midsize City
Enrollment 6,539 5,783
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #733 #1008
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website salemstate.edu nsu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Salem State University NSU
Tuition (In State) $910 $5,752
Tuition (Out of State) $7,050 $16,920
Room & Board $14,954 $10,844
Avg Net Price $19,277 $14,652
Avg Grant Aid $8,562 $12,164
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 91%

Admission

Salem State University NSU
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,093 8,884
Admitted 4,719 7,951
Acceptance Rate 92.7% 89.5%
Enrolled % 18.3% 16.4%
Avg High School GPA 3.17 2.9
Typical High School Grades B B-
Admissions Standards Moderate Extremely Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 15/20
SAT Range 986/1210 840/1040
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jun 1, 2024 May 31, 2024

Academics

Salem State University NSU
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 18:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Health Professions (21%)
  • Business (16%)
  • Social Sciences (11%)
  • General Studies (10%)
  • Communication (7%)

Outcomes

Salem State University NSU
Graduation Rate 42% 33%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,400 $36,700
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 27%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $31,000
Median Loan Payment $248 $320

Diversity

Salem State University NSU
% Men 31% 33%
% Women 69% 67%
Racial Diversity Medium Very Low
HBCU No Yes
% White 68% 5%
% Black 9% 84%
% Hispanic 12% 3%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 3% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

Salem State University NSU
% In-State 90% 65%
% Out-of-State 8% 31%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Salem State University is larger than than NSU based on total student enrollment (6,539 students vs. 5,783 students)

Salem State University vs. NSU Cost Comparison

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

  • Norfolk State University is 532.1% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($5,752.00 vs. $910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 140% higher at NSU than Salem State University ($16,920.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Norfolk State University than Salem State University ($14,652 vs. $19,277)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Norfolk State University are 37.9% lower than costs at Salem State University ($10,844 vs. $14,954)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than Norfolk State University (99% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Norfolk State University students is 42.1% larger than aid received Salem State University ($12,164 vs. $8,562)

Salem State University vs. NSU Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Salem State University students have a 0.27 point higher average high school GPA (3.17) than students at NSU (2.9)
  • Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than NSU (89.5%)

Salem State University vs. NSU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Salem State University or NSU? 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 NSU and Salem State University.

  • The graduation rate at Salem State University is higher than Norfolk State University (42% vs. 33%)
  • Graduates from Salem State University earn on average $7,700 more per year than NSU graduates after ten years. ($44,400 vs. $36,700)
  • Salem State University students graduate with a $7,000 lower median federal student loan debt than NSU graduates. ($24,000 vs. $31,000)
  • Salem State University graduates are paying $72 less per month on federal student loans than NSU graduates. ($248 vs. $320)
  • More Salem State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NSU students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 27%)

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