Salem State University vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley

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

Salem State University Penn State Lehigh Valley
Location Salem, MA Center Valley, PA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 6,539 888
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #733
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website salemstate.edu psu.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Salem State University Penn State Lehigh Valley
Tuition (In State) $910 $14,624
Tuition (Out of State) $7,050 $24,318
Room & Board $14,954 $12,984
Avg Net Price $19,277 $18,142
Avg Grant Aid $8,562 $9,886
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 78%

Admission

Salem State University Penn State Lehigh Valley
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,093 1,806
Admitted 4,719 1,699
Acceptance Rate 92.7% 94.1%
Enrolled % 18.3% 15.7%
Avg High School GPA 3.17 3.42
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Moderate Average
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 22/26
SAT Range 986/1210 1100/1290
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

Academics

Salem State University Penn State Lehigh Valley
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Business (46%)
  • Education (25%)
  • Psychology (18%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (4%)
  • Foreign Languages (3%)

Outcomes

Salem State University Penn State Lehigh Valley
Graduation Rate 42% 47%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,400 $55,300
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 69%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $26,818
Median Loan Payment $248 $277

Diversity

Salem State University Penn State Lehigh Valley
% Men 31% 57%
% Women 69% 43%
Racial Diversity Medium Medium
HBCU No No
% White 68% 64%
% Black 9% 6%
% Hispanic 12% 16%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 2%
% International 3% 0%
% Unknown Race 2% 1%

Students

Salem State University Penn State Lehigh Valley
% In-State 90% 93%
% Out-of-State 8% 6%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Salem State University is larger than than Penn State Lehigh Valley based on total student enrollment (6,539 students vs. 888 students)

Salem State University vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Salem State University or Penn State Lehigh Valley?

  • Penn State Lehigh Valley is 1,507% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($14,624.00 vs. $910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 244.9% higher at Penn State Lehigh Valley than Salem State University ($24,318.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Penn State Lehigh Valley than Salem State University ($18,142 vs. $19,277)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Penn State Lehigh Valley are 15.2% lower than costs at Salem State University ($12,984 vs. $14,954)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than Penn State Lehigh Valley (99% vs. 78%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Lehigh Valley students is 15.5% larger than aid received Salem State University ($9,886 vs. $8,562)

Salem State University vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Penn State Lehigh Valley students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.42) than students at Salem State University (3.17)
  • Penn State Lehigh Valley has a higher acceptance rate (94.1%) than Salem State University (92.7%)

Salem State University vs. Penn State Lehigh Valley Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Salem State University or Penn State Lehigh Valley? 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 Penn State Lehigh Valley and Salem State University.

  • The graduation rate at Penn State Lehigh Valley is higher than Salem State University (47% vs. 42%)
  • Graduates from Penn State Lehigh Valley earn on average $10,900 more per year than Salem State University graduates after ten years. ($55,300 vs. $44,400)
  • Salem State University students graduate with a $2,818 lower median federal student loan debt than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates. ($24,000 vs. $26,818)
  • Salem State University graduates are paying $29 less per month on federal student loans than Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates. ($248 vs. $277)
  • More Penn State Lehigh Valley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem State University students, three years after graduation. (69% vs. 63%)

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