Westfield State vs Salem State
Westfield State University and Salem State University, both esteemed public universities in Massachusetts, offer distinct educational experiences. Westfield State boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for students. Salem State, on the other hand, has a slightly higher graduation rate, indicating a strong commitment to student success. While both universities offer a diverse range of majors, Westfield State excels in fields like Education and Criminal Justice, while Salem State shines in areas such as Nursing and Business. Explore the detailed comparison table below to delve into further differences, including student body demographics, tuition fees, and more, to determine which university aligns best with your academic aspirations and personal preferences.
|
![]() Salem State University |
![]() Westfield State University |
---|---|---|
Overview |
||
Location | Salem, Massachusetts | Westfield, Massachusetts |
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% | 75.0% |
![]() |
Yes | Yes |
Religious affiliation | ||
|
||
Admission |
||
Acceptance rate | 90.0% | 94.4% |
Application fees |
Undergraduate:
$50
Graduate:
$50
|
$50 |
SAT range | N/A | 980 - 1190 |
ACT range | N/A | 17 - 22 |
Students submitting SAT score | 22.0% | |
Students submitting ACT score | 1.0% | |
Total number of applicants | 6,287 | 3,629 |
Total number of admissions given out | 5,659 | 3,424 |
Admitted students who chose to enroll | 939 | 802 |
Yield rate | 16.6% | 23.4% |
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 | Not required |
|
||
Tuition and Fees |
||
Sticker price |
In state:
$27,123
Out of state:
$33,928
|
In state:
$26,978
Out of state:
$33,058
|
Average net price | $18,125 | $19,194 |
Tuition |
In state:
$910
Out of state:
$7,050
|
In state:
$970
Out of state:
$7,050
|
Room & board | $14,590 |
Room/dormitory:
$7,700
Meal plan:
$4,500
|
Available payment plans |
|
|
|
||
Financial Aid |
||
Students receiving financial aid
(Grants & scholarships) |
91.0%
Average amount $7,673 |
84.0%
Average amount $5,332 |
Students receiving federal student loan |
67.0%
Average amount $4,984 |
70.0%
Average amount $4,971 |
Students taking out private loans |
10.0%
Average amount $12,948 |
14.0%
Average amount $12,501 |
|
||
Students and Campus |
||
Undergraduate students |
5,555
Men 34.5% Women 65.5% |
4,239
Men 44.3% Women 55.7% |
Graduate students |
1,576
Men 21.8% Women 78.2% |
774
Men 32.6% Women 67.4% |
Racial/ethnic diversity |
Low
|
Low
|
Out-of-state students | N/A | N/A |
International students | 2.5% | 0.5% |
Campus local/setting | Suburb: Large | Suburb: Large |
Dormitory capacity | 1,928 | 2,396 |
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 | N/A |
|
||
Academics |
||
Popular study areas |
|
|
Students to faculty ratio | 13:1 | 21:1 |
Institutional accreditation | New England Commission on Higher Education | New England Commission on Higher Education |
|
||
Outcome |
||
Graduation rate | 56.8% | 60.6% |
Dropout rate | 40.8% | 38.6% |
Transferred out | N/A | N/A |
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)
|
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, Other (Master's Degrees)
Social Work (Master's Degrees)
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Bachelor's Degrees)
Mathematics (Bachelor's Degrees)
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Master's Degrees)
Business/Commerce, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
Psychology, General (Master's Degrees)
Social Work (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.




































































































































































