Keene State vs Salem State

Keene State College and Salem State University, both esteemed public institutions in New Hampshire and Massachusetts respectively, offer distinct educational experiences. Keene State boasts a higher acceptance rate (83%) compared to Salem State's (73%), making it a more accessible option for prospective students. While Salem State accommodates a larger student body, Keene State fosters a more intimate learning environment with smaller class sizes. Both universities excel in different academic areas; Keene State is renowned for its strong programs in education, psychology, and business, while Salem State shines in nursing, social work, and communication. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into further details about these institutions, including graduation rates, student demographics, and additional factors that may influence your higher education journey.
Keene State College logo

Keene State College

Salem State University logo

Salem State University

Overview

Location Keene, New Hampshire Salem, Massachusetts
Campus setting Town: Distant 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%
Common app member Yes Yes
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate 88.1% 90.0%
Application fees
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $50
Undergraduate: $50

Graduate: $50
SAT range 970 - 1170 N/A
ACT range 24 - 25 N/A
Students submitting SAT score 16.0%
Students submitting ACT score 1.0%
Total number of applicants 4,796 6,287
Total number of admissions given out 4,225 5,659
Admitted students who chose to enroll 749 939
Yield rate 17.7% 16.6%
Test scores (SAT/ACT) N/A N/A
High school GPA Required Required
Recommendation letters Required Not required
High school transcript Not required Not required
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) Not required Required

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $27,606

Out of state: $37,962
In state: $27,123

Out of state: $33,928
Average net price $20,058 $18,125
Tuition
In state: $11,754

Out of state: $22,110
In state: $910

Out of state: $7,050
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $7,730

Meal plan: $4,798
$14,590
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

99.0%
Average amount $9,531
91.0%
Average amount $7,673
Students receiving federal student loan 72.0%
Average amount $5,158
67.0%
Average amount $4,984
Students taking out private loans 25.0%
Average amount $14,663
10.0%
Average amount $12,948

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 2,964
Men 45.5% Women 54.5%
5,555
Men 34.5% Women 65.5%
Graduate students 136
Men 37.5% Women 62.5%
1,576
Men 21.8% Women 78.2%
Racial/ethnic diversity
Very Low
Low
Out-of-state students 51.2% N/A
International students 0.4% 2.5%
Campus local/setting Town: Distant Suburb: Large
Dormitory capacity 2,058 1,928
First year students are required to live on campus? No No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from New Hampshire Mississippi Connecticut Vermont New York New York New Hampshire Connecticut Rhode Island Vermont

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Education
  • Visual & Performing Arts
  • Health Professions
  • Social Sciences
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Education
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Public Administration and Social Service
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences
Students to faculty ratio 15:1 13:1
Institutional accreditation New England Commission on Higher Education New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 59.9% 56.8%
Dropout rate 39.9% 40.8%
Transferred out N/A N/A
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $67,023
  • Year 2: $62,839
  • Year 3: $68,170
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,926
  • Year 2: $55,693
  • Year 3: $61,948
Quality Control and Safety Technologies/Technicians (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,424
  • Year 2: $49,980
  • Year 3: $61,103
Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Other (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $42,470
  • Year 2: $40,368
  • Year 3: $50,477
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,118
  • Year 2: $41,565
  • Year 3: $49,079
Special Education and Teaching (Master's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $48,889
  • Year 2: $44,542
  • Year 3: $48,338
Architecture (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $40,199
  • Year 2: $40,461
  • Year 3: $47,388
Economics (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,128
  • Year 2: $41,789
  • Year 3: $45,814
Design and Applied Arts (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $36,745
  • Year 2: $33,993
  • Year 3: $45,468
Communication and Media Studies (Bachelor's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $38,382
  • Year 2: $35,653
  • Year 3: $44,504
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

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