Salem State University

What are the graduation rates for students at Salem State University?

Salem State's reported four-year graduation rate is 36%, while its six-year rate is 50%. These are cohort measures for first-time, full-time students pursuing a degree; they should not be read as the completion rate for every transfer, part-time or graduate student.

The difference shows why the time frame matters: some students complete after four years but within six. The reported first-year retention rate is 75%, measuring a different outcome - whether students return for the following year - not whether they eventually graduate. Applicants comparing colleges should use the same cohort definition and time period across institutions, then consider how their own enrollment plans may differ from those cohorts.

What is the earning potential for graduates at Salem State University?

College Scorecard program data reports earnings measured about one year after completion for certain Salem State fields of study. These are program-level outcomes for the students represented in federal earnings records, not a starting salary offered to every graduate.

Among the reported figures, registered nursing is $68,690, computer and information sciences is $50,461, business administration is $42,434, and biology is $37,411. The variation is one reason to compare outcomes by field rather than assign the university a single expected salary. One-year figures also cannot show later career progression, graduate-school enrollment or differences in hours worked and local labor markets.

Salem State's career services are separate from these earnings statistics. Students can use career counseling, résumé assistance, interview preparation, job listings and employer events, but access to a service is not an employment guarantee.