Salem State University

Salem State University's published cost of attendance is $28,291. Net price by income band reveals how financial aid reshapes that headline figure: low-income families pay approximately $10,516, middle-income families pay around $13,821, and higher-income families pay approximately $23,223.

Azimuth ranks Salem State University #523 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.

Salem State's affordability profile reflects a public institution's tuition structure paired with need-based aid reach. The relatively narrow spread across income bands suggests that aid allocation is modest at higher income levels, a pattern typical of public regional universities.

Families applying for aid use the FAFSA, and Salem State participates in federal (Pell Grants, Direct Loans) and state aid programs. For families weighing whether Salem State's net price aligns with their budget, the income-band figures above provide a realistic starting point — though individual circumstances, merit aid eligibility, and other funding sources will shape the final out-of-pocket cost.

Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $25,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $21,128; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $62,605, median federal debt of $25,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $282 under standard ten-year repayment.

For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).

Graduates of Salem State University earn median earnings of $62,605 four years after enrollment, placing Salem State University in the 62.7 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $10,168 more than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Salem State University in the 86.0 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Azimuth ranks Salem State University #493 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Salem State University also sits in the 50.5 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a [historical 10-year Scorecard measure](/analysis/college-scorecard-2026-4-year-vs-10-year-earnings-2-2/) not yet updated to the four-year horizon.

The earnings pattern at Salem State University is anchored by its dominant Business concentration, which drives a meaningful share of graduate outcomes. Nursing stands out as the program combining the broadest cohort scale with strong median earnings, making it a key contributor to the institution's overall return profile.

Nursing, with 155 graduates earning median earnings of $95,550 four years after enrollment, is among the highest-earning programs at the institution; Azimuth ranks Nursing #99 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). Psychology, General and Criminal Justice also contribute meaningfully to the institution's median earnings picture, with graduates in those fields posting competitive four-year earnings relative to their national benchmarks.

Programs in Business represent 18% of degree output, with Education and Arts accounting for 7% and 6%, respectively — a mix that reflects MA's regional labor market demand across professional and applied fields.

Salem State University's program mix is anchored in Business, with additional depth in health, education, and social-science fields — a signature consistent with a regional public university serving a mixed enrollment in the greater Boston area. Business accounts for 18% of graduates, followed by Education at 7% and Arts at 6%, reflecting a portfolio oriented toward applied professional and workforce-ready fields.

Across 42 programs serving roughly 1,280 students annually, 20 meet Azimuth's ranking threshold. Nursing is the program that combines scale and earnings most effectively at Salem State University, making it the institution's highest aggregate-return major — a field where enrollment volume and graduate pay together generate the strongest collective economic outcome.

Among the most popular programs, Nursing program graduates 155 students with median earnings of $95,550 four years after enrollment, and Azimuth ranks it #99 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Psychology, General and Criminal Justice are also among the largest programs by graduate count, with four-year median earnings of $54,717 and $59,774 respectively, reflecting the university's strength in applied and professionally oriented fields.

The highest-earning programs at Salem State University are concentrated in business and health-adjacent fields, where graduates enter labor markets with consistent hiring demand. Nursing leads on earnings, with 155 graduates earning median earnings of $95,550 four years after enrollment; Azimuth ranks it #99 for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Business Administration and Biology, General follow, with four-year median earnings of $67,789 and $67,551 respectively — both high-mobility, direct-to-workforce pathways where graduates typically enter stable regional employment. For context on how these program families align with national labor-market demand, see [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/).