Salem State vs SUNY Potsdam
Salem State University and SUNY College at Potsdam, both public institutions with rich histories, offer distinct educational experiences. Salem State, located just north of Boston, boasts a diverse student body and a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs, with a focus on liberal arts and professional studies. SUNY Potsdam, nestled in the scenic North Country of New York, emphasizes the arts and sciences, providing a strong foundation for students seeking careers in creative fields. While both universities offer a welcoming and supportive learning environment, they differ in acceptance rates, popular majors, student demographics, and graduation rates. Explore the detailed comparison table below to discover which institution aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
|
![]() Salem State University |
![]() SUNY College at Potsdam |
---|---|---|
Overview |
||
Location | Salem, Massachusetts | Potsdam, New York |
Campus setting | Suburb: Large | Town: Remote |
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% | 67.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
|
||
Admission |
||
Acceptance rate | 90.0% | 81.3% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$50
|
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$50
|
SAT range | N/A | N/A |
ACT range | N/A | N/A |
Students submitting SAT score | ||
Students submitting ACT score | ||
Total number of applicants | 6,287 | 3,225 |
Total number of admissions given out | 5,659 | 2,623 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 939 | 416 |
Yield rate | 16.6% | 15.9% |
Test scores (SAT/ACT) | N/A | N/A |
High school GPA | Required | Required |
Recommendation letters | Not required | 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:
$21,784
Out of state:
$31,694
|
Average net price | $18,125 | $14,494 |
Tuition |
In state:
$910
Out of state:
$7,050
|
In state:
$7,070
Out of state:
$16,980
|
Room & board | $14,590 |
Room/dormitory:
$8,150
Meal plan:
$5,800
|
Available payment plans |
|
|
|
||
Financial Aid |
||
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
91.0%
Average amount $7,673 |
92.0%
Average amount $10,014 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
67.0%
Average amount $4,984 |
71.0%
Average amount $4,995 |
Students taking out private loans |
10.0%
Average amount $12,948 |
12.0%
Average amount $11,185 |
|
||
Students and Campus |
||
Undergraduate students |
5,555
Men 34.5% Women 65.5% |
2,352
Men 37.6% Women 62.4% |
Graduate students |
1,576
Men 21.8% Women 78.2% |
255
Men 27.8% Women 72.2% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
|
Out-of-state students | N/A | 3.9% |
International students | 2.5% | 0.8% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | Town: Remote |
Dormitory capacity | 1,928 | 2,715 |
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 Vermont Connecticut New Jersey Colorado |
|
||
Academics |
||
Popular study areas |
|
|
Students to faculty ratio | 13:1 | 10:1 |
Institutional accreditation | New England Commission on Higher Education | Middle States Commission on Higher Education |
|
||
Outcome |
||
Graduation rate | 56.8% | 49.8% |
Dropout rate | 40.8% | 17.1% |
Transferred out | N/A | 32.8% |
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)
|
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
English Language and Literature, General (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.


















































































































































