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 logo

Salem State University

SUNY College at Potsdam logo

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%
Common app member 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
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

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
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
  • Education
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Health Professions
  • Kinesiology & Leisure Studies
  • Business
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)
  • Year 1: $50,461
  • Year 2: $67,660
  • Year 3: $81,500
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $68,690
  • Year 2: $69,261
  • Year 3: $74,129
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $61,511
  • Year 2: $63,005
  • Year 3: $69,206
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $90,183
  • Year 2: $71,854
  • Year 3: $64,195
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,356
  • Year 2: $59,124
  • Year 3: $61,164
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,191
  • Year 2: $54,855
  • Year 3: $59,882
Social Work (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,049
  • Year 2: $50,606
  • Year 3: $53,563
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $48,859
  • Year 2: $48,302
  • Year 3: $52,492
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $47,960
  • Year 2: $47,729
  • Year 3: $51,920
Chemistry (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $43,346
  • Year 2: $45,696
  • Year 3: $51,685
Computer Science (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $69,338
  • Year 3: $80,254
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $36,353
  • Year 2: $40,017
  • Year 3: $47,596
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $46,838
  • Year 2: $43,712
  • Year 3: $46,516
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $33,686
  • Year 2: $30,771
  • Year 3: $46,475
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,720
  • Year 2: $38,289
  • Year 3: $45,785
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $30,690
  • Year 2: $34,420
  • Year 3: $44,513
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,078
  • Year 2: $37,424
  • Year 3: $43,713
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $35,008
  • Year 2: $35,891
  • Year 3: $43,677
Biology, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $24,842
  • Year 2: $27,440
  • Year 3: $40,409
English Language and Literature, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $30,771
  • Year 3: $39,586

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