Salem State vs Purchase College
Salem State University and SUNY at Purchase College, two distinct institutions with unique offerings, stand ready to welcome prospective students. Salem State, rooted in Salem, Massachusetts, boasts an acceptance rate of 84%, while SUNY Purchase, nestled in Purchase, New York, maintains a slightly lower acceptance rate of 79%. Both universities offer a diverse range of undergraduate programs, with Salem State excelling in fields like nursing, education, and social work, and SUNY Purchase shining in the arts, design, and media. While Salem State's student body primarily comprises Massachusetts residents, SUNY Purchase attracts a more diverse population from across the nation and the globe. With graduation rates of 59% and 63% respectively, both universities are committed to supporting students in achieving their academic goals. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover more about these institutions and make an informed decision that aligns with your aspirations and preferences.
|
![]() Salem State University |
![]() SUNY at Purchase College |
---|---|---|
Overview |
||
Location | Salem, Massachusetts | Purchase, New York |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: Large |
College type | 4 year | 4 year |
Control/business model | Public | Public |
Calendar system | Semester | Semester |
Degrees offered | Undergraduate and Graduate | Undergraduate and Graduate |
Students retention rate | 75.0% | 79.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
|
||
Admission |
||
Acceptance rate | 90.0% | 75.4% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$50
|
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$85
|
SAT range | N/A | 1120 - 1320 |
ACT range | N/A | 27 - 31 |
Students submitting SAT score | 12.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 2.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 6,287 | 4,047 |
Total number of admissions given out | 5,659 | 3,052 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 939 | 680 |
Yield rate | 16.6% | 22.3% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | Not required |
High school transcript | Not required | Not required |
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) | Required | Required |
|
||
Tuition and Fees |
||
Sticker price |
In state:
$27,123
Out of state:
$33,928
|
In state:
$28,661
Out of state:
$38,571
|
Average net price | $18,125 | $19,458 |
Tuition |
In state:
$910
Out of state:
$7,050
|
In state:
$7,070
Out of state:
$16,980
|
Room & board | $14,590 |
Room/dormitory:
$9,098
Meal plan:
$5,450
|
Available payment plans |
|
|
|
||
Financial Aid |
||
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
91.0%
Average amount $7,673 |
76.0%
Average amount $8,868 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
67.0%
Average amount $4,984 |
40.0%
Average amount $5,040 |
Students taking out private loans |
10.0%
Average amount $12,948 |
3.0%
Average amount $12,471 |
|
||
Students and Campus |
||
Undergraduate students |
5,555
Men 34.5% Women 65.5% |
3,439
Men 41.1% Women 58.9% |
Graduate students |
1,576
Men 21.8% Women 78.2% |
83
Men 51.8% Women 48.2% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Moderate
|
Out-of-state students | N/A | 16.2% |
International students | 2.5% | 1.9% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 1,928 | 2,270 |
First year students are required to live on campus? | No | No |
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from | New York New Hampshire Connecticut Rhode Island Vermont | New York New Jersey Connecticut Florida Mississippi |
|
||
Academics |
||
Popular study areas |
|
|
Students to faculty ratio | 13:1 | 13:1 |
Institutional accreditation | New England Commission on Higher Education | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
|
||
Outcome |
||
Graduation rate | 56.8% | 63.5% |
Dropout rate | 40.8% | 12.0% |
Transferred out | N/A | 23.1% |
Alumni salary by major (Top 10) |
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
Social Work (Master's Degrees)
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
Chemistry (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Mathematics and Statistics, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
Visual and Performing Arts, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Journalism (Bachelor's Degrees)
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management (Bachelor's Degrees)
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities (Bachelor's Degrees)
Literature (Bachelor's Degrees)
|
Compare Similar Colleges
The list of suggested college comparisons provided below is generated automatically by our system, utilizing
statistics gathered from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and various online sources. If you
don't find the colleges you wish to compare, please visit our comparison page.
There, you can search for the
specific colleges and initiate your comparison.











































































































































