Salem State University vs. USC Aiken

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

Salem State University USC Aiken
Location Salem, MA Aiken, SC
Setting Large Suburban Rural Fringe
Enrollment 6,539 3,840
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #733 #888
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website salemstate.edu usca.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Salem State University USC Aiken
Tuition (In State) $910 $10,398
Tuition (Out of State) $7,050 $20,856
Room & Board $14,954 $8,376
Avg Net Price $19,277 $11,872
Avg Grant Aid $8,562 $9,891
% Receiving Grant Aid 99% 100%

Admission

Salem State University USC Aiken
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 5,093 2,453
Admitted 4,719 1,855
Acceptance Rate 92.7% 75.6%
Enrolled % 18.3% 29.8%
Avg High School GPA 3.17 3.19
Typical High School Grades B B
Admissions Standards Moderate Easy
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 18/24
SAT Range 986/1210 950/1180
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 Aug 1, 2024

Academics

Salem State University USC Aiken
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 15:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
  • Business (25%)
  • Education (14%)
  • Health Professions (12%)
  • Social Sciences (9%)
  • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (9%)

Outcomes

Salem State University USC Aiken
Graduation Rate 42% 41%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $44,400 $39,600
Making Student Loan Payments 63% 54%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,000 $26,000
Median Loan Payment $248 $268

Diversity

Salem State University USC Aiken
% Men 31% 36%
% Women 69% 64%
Racial Diversity Medium High
HBCU No No
% White 68% 58%
% Black 9% 27%
% Hispanic 12% 4%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 3% 4%
% International 3% 4%
% Unknown Race 2% 2%

Students

Salem State University USC Aiken
% In-State 90% 87%
% Out-of-State 8% 11%

Campus

Salem State University USC Aiken
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 USC Aiken based on total student enrollment (6,539 students vs. 3,840 students)

Salem State University vs. USC Aiken Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Salem State University or USC Aiken?

  • University of South Carolina Aiken is 1,042.6% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($10,398.00 vs. $910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 195.8% higher at USC Aiken than Salem State University ($20,856.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at University of South Carolina Aiken than Salem State University ($11,872 vs. $19,277)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of South Carolina Aiken are 78.5% lower than costs at Salem State University ($8,376 vs. $14,954)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at University of South Carolina Aiken than Salem State University (100% vs. 99%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of South Carolina Aiken students is 15.5% larger than aid received Salem State University ($9,891 vs. $8,562)

Salem State University vs. USC Aiken Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman USC Aiken students have a 0.02 point higher average high school GPA (3.19) than students at Salem State University (3.17)
  • Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than USC Aiken (75.6%)

Salem State University vs. USC Aiken Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Salem State University or USC Aiken? 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 USC Aiken and Salem State University.

  • The graduation rate at Salem State University is higher than University of South Carolina Aiken (42% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from Salem State University earn on average $4,800 more per year than USC Aiken graduates after ten years. ($44,400 vs. $39,600)
  • Salem State University students graduate with a $2,000 lower median federal student loan debt than USC Aiken graduates. ($24,000 vs. $26,000)
  • Salem State University graduates are paying $20 less per month on federal student loans than USC Aiken graduates. ($248 vs. $268)
  • More Salem State University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former USC Aiken students, three years after graduation. (63% vs. 54%)

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