At $18,441/yr net price, Salem State University graduates earn $56,662/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $22,662/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $18,441 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $73,764 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $56,662/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$22,662/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 3.3 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 55.0% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $25,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $13,384/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $14,747/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $17,712/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $21,398/yr |
| $110,001+ | $24,642/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $78,971 | |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Master | $71,854 | $26,375 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $69,261 | $27,000 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Bachelor | $67,660 | $26,250 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. | Master | $63,005 | $53,255 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas. | Master | $59,124 | $16,500 |
| Special Education and Teaching. | Master | $54,855 | $19,649 |
| Social Work. | Master | $50,606 | $40,594 |
| Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology. | Master | $48,302 | $32,512 |
| Educational Administration and Supervision. | Master | $48,041 | $20,658 |
The Risk Factor
55.0% of students at Salem State University graduate within 6 years. More than half of students finish, but the dropout rate is a real factor in whether this investment pays off.
Analysis
Salem State gives you a solid financial return if you pick the right major, and a shaky one if you don't. The median graduate earns enough to cover $25,000 in debt without much strain, and the net price sits below what most private schools charge. The problem is the gap between programs, which is wide enough to change your whole outcome.
Nursing and computer science are the two bets that pay off. Both clear $67,000 a year, which is roughly $25,000 more than a business or biology graduate earns here. That is not a small difference. A nursing graduate carries about $27,000 in debt but earns enough to make it disappear fast. A business graduate leaves with less debt yet earns in the low $40,000s, and biology and chemistry land in the same range despite carrying some of the highest debt loads on the list. If you plan to major in biology at $41,308 while borrowing $26,500, you are paying nursing-level prices for half the paycheck.
The main risk here is that 55% of students graduate and only 74% return for a second year. If you borrow and leave without the degree, you keep the debt and lose the earnings that justify it. That risk hits harder in the low-paying majors, where the salary barely rewards finishing.
The net price scales fairly with income. If your family earns under $30,000, you pay around $13,000 a year. if it earns over $110,000, you pay closer to $25,000. That lower tier makes the nursing and CS paths a strong value for lower-income families.
Come here for nursing or computer science. If you want biology, chemistry, or business, run the debt math first and keep your borrowing low.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Salem State University worth the money?
Salem State University offers decent value with a net price of $18,441 and graduates earning $56,662 after 10 years, but the 55% graduation rate means many students don't finish. The school works best for students pursuing nursing or business programs, which show significantly higher earnings than the overall average.
What are the best paying majors at Salem State University?
Business administration leads at nearly $79,000 annually, followed by nursing programs around $70,000. Computer science graduates earn about $68,000, while rehabilitation therapy majors make $63,000. These programs offer much better ROI than the university average.
How much student debt do Salem State University graduates have?
Salem State graduates carry a median debt of $25,000, which is manageable given the $56,662 average earnings 10 years out. Students in high-paying programs like business and nursing can handle this debt load more easily than those in lower-earning fields.
Does Salem State University have good job outcomes?
Job outcomes vary widely by major at Salem State University. While nursing and business graduates do well financially, the 55% graduation rate suggests many students struggle to complete their degrees, which limits their earning potential.