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Salem State University
Salem, MA 4,291 Undergrads 62.0% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$28,291
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$15,996
After Aid
Median Earnings
$62,605
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$15,996
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$62,605
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate62.0%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients39.5%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time86.7%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS78.4%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
95.9%
SAT Avg
-
SAT Reading
25th: --75th: -
SAT Math
25th: --75th: -
ACT Composite
25th: --75th: -
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$556k
+$90k
+$72k
Median Cost$16k/yr
+$499k
+$32k
+$15k
Full Cost$28k/yr
+$455k
-$12k
-$30k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
35
∞
Median Cost$16k/yr
53
25%
Full Cost$28k/yr
Never
-29%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return43%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-41%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Certificates
Accounting and Related Services
CertCIP: 5203
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $44,589
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Bachelor's Degrees
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$26,500
Earnings (4yr)
$67,551
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$53k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$24,250
Earnings (4yr)
$67,789
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$55k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$25,750
Earnings (4yr)
$81,266
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
+$158k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$24,847
Earnings (4yr)
$50,260
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$86k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$26,250
Earnings (4yr)
$92,380
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$243k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
BachCIP: 4301
Median Debt
$21,750
Earnings (4yr)
$59,774
Natl Median: $55,378
Lifetime Value Added
-$8k
Dance
BachCIP: 5003
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,980
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Education, General
BachCIP: 1301
Median Debt
$25,500
Earnings (4yr)
$45,568
Natl Median: $49,808
Lifetime Value Added
-$126k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$26,250
Earnings (4yr)
$43,621
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$142k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$50,397
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
Fire Protection
BachCIP: 4302
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $86,436
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$58,593
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,424
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
-$11k
Health and Medical Administrative Services
BachCIP: 5107
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$55,323
Natl Median: $58,716
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$25,450
Earnings (4yr)
$49,572
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$53,648
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$67k
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services
BachCIP: 1601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $49,984
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$61,259
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$29,520
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
-$254k
Philosophy and Religious Studies, General
BachCIP: 3800
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $47,213
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,499
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$22,749
Earnings (4yr)
$54,717
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$49k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (4yr)
$95,550
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$267k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
BachCIP: 5123
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,792
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$24,991
Earnings (4yr)
$60,026
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$6k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$25,250
Earnings (4yr)
$51,573
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$75k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$51,362
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$77k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$56,509
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$35k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$26,496
Earnings (4yr)
$55,808
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language
BachCIP: 1314
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,259
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Visual and Performing Arts, General
BachCIP: 5001
Median Debt
$25,874
Earnings (4yr)
$32,484
Natl Median: $41,688
Lifetime Value Added
-$239k
Post-Baccalaureate Certificates
Business Administration, Management and Operations
PB-CertCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $104,114
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
PB-CertCIP: 4228
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,661
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Finance and Financial Management Services
PB-CertCIP: 5208
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $124,255
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
PB-CertCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,439
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Master's Degrees
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$80,033
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$36k
Clinical, Counseling and Applied Psychology
MastCIP: 4228
Median Debt
$32,512
Earnings (4yr)
$69,495
Natl Median: $65,184
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
Criminal Justice and Corrections
MastCIP: 4301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$107,339
Natl Median: $66,714
Lifetime Value Added
+$275k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
$20,658
Earnings (4yr)
$62,341
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
-$120k
Educational/Instructional Media Design
MastCIP: 1305
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $70,644
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
English Language and Literature, General
MastCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$69,754
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Geography and Cartography
MastCIP: 4507
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,784
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$69,278
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
-$70k
Mathematics
MastCIP: 2701
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $72,654
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$26,375
Earnings (4yr)
$122,042
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
+$403k
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
MastCIP: 5123
Median Debt
$53,255
Earnings (4yr)
$69,564
Natl Median: $71,416
Lifetime Value Added
-$56k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$40,594
Earnings (4yr)
$69,819
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$54k
Special Education and Teaching
MastCIP: 1310
Median Debt
$19,649
Earnings (4yr)
$63,889
Natl Median: $64,397
Lifetime Value Added
-$106k
Student Counseling and Personnel Services
MastCIP: 1311
Median Debt
$40,844
Earnings (4yr)
$57,817
Natl Median: $60,111
Lifetime Value Added
-$162k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$15,041
Earnings (4yr)
$60,928
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
-$133k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$16,500
Earnings (4yr)
$72,560
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
-$30k
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language
MastCIP: 1314
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $65,767
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Professional Degrees
Educational Administration and Supervision
ProfCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $78,026
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.