Salem State University Acceptance Rate
Salem, Massachusetts · Public · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 4,852
- Admitted
- 4,637
- Yield
- 17.5%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Salem State University's acceptance rate has risen from 70.6% in 2014–15 to 95.6% in 2023–24. Applications fell from 5,198 to 4,852 (-7%) over that period.
Its 95.6% rate makes Salem State University more selective than about 8% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 61 tracked Massachusetts schools, it is more selective than about 2%.
Salem State University has been test-optional since 2016–17. Of admitted students, 17.5% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 5,198 | 3,668 | 70.6% | 1,148 |
| 2015–16 | 5,164 | 3,868 | 74.9% | 1,093 |
| 2016–17 | 6,139 | 4,517 | 73.6% | 1,145 |
| 2017–18 | 6,185 | 5,066 | 81.9% | 1,094 |
| 2018–19 | 6,562 | 5,558 | 84.7% | 1,111 |
| 2019–20 | 5,825 | 4,985 | 85.6% | 1,011 |
| 2020–21 | 6,557 | 5,688 | 86.7% | 996 |
| 2021–22 | 6,287 | 5,659 | 90% | 939 |
| 2022–23 | 5,093 | 4,719 | 92.7% | 863 |
| 2023–24 | 4,852 | 4,637 | 95.6% | 810 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 3,322 | 3,187 | 95.9% |
| Men | 1,530 | 1,450 | 94.8% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 510–590 | 6% |
| SAT Math | 480–570 |
How Salem State University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Salem State University's acceptance rate?
Salem State University's acceptance rate is 95.6% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (4,637 admitted of 4,852 applicants).
Is Salem State University test optional?
Salem State University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Salem State University?
Salem State University received 4,852 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 4,637.
What SAT score do you need for Salem State University?
Admitted students at Salem State University typically scored 510–590 on SAT Reading/Writing and 480–570 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Salem State University getting harder to get into?
Salem State University has become easier to get into: its acceptance rate went from 70.6% in 2014–15 to 95.6% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.salemstate.edu/.