Salem State's tuition & fees has increased from $15,508 (2015) to $19,531 (2025), and the rate of tuition increase is 25.94% over the past 10 years. The graduate school tuition & fees has raised from $8,514 (year 2015) to $11,069 (year 2025).
Salem State's tuition increase rate is higher than the Massachusetts's average increase rate of 13.51%. Compare to all colleges in United States, it's increase rate is higher than the average increase rate of 10.99%.
The total cost of attendance (COA), including tuition & fees, books & supplies costs, and living costs, increased by 29.14% from 2015 ($30,473).
For the current academic year 2024-2025, Salem State's COA is $39,353, which is increased by 2.69% from last year.
The following table and chart show changes to Salem State's COA over the past 10 years.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | Change by Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | In-State | Out-of-State | ||
| 2015-16 | $24,211 | $30,473 | $24,042 | $30,304 | - |
| 2016-17 | $25,482 | $31,894 | $24,648 | $31,060 | 4.66% |
| 2017-18 | $26,224 | $32,652 | $25,548 | $31,976 | 2.38% |
| 2018-19 | $27,626 | $34,382 | $26,288 | $33,044 | 5.30% |
| 2019-20 | $28,320 | $35,101 | $26,708 | $33,489 | 2.09% |
| 2020-21 | $29,249 | $36,054 | $27,123 | $33,928 | 2.72% |
| 2021-22 | $29,249 | $36,054 | $27,123 | $33,928 | |
| 2022-23 | $29,916 | $36,899 | $27,426 | $34,409 | 2.34% |
| 2023-24 | $31,340 | $38,323 | $27,426 | $34,409 | 3.86% |
| 2024-25 | $32,160 | $39,353 | $29,298 | $36,491 | 2.69% |
The tuition & fees have increased 25.94% for the last 10 years , and the 2025 tuition & fees are $12,481. The following table and chart show the tuition & fees changes at Salem State University over last the 10 years.
| Year | Undergraduate | Graduate | Change By Year | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-State | Out-of-State | In-State | Out-of-State | ||
| 2015-16 | $9,246 | $15,508 | $6,894 | $8,514 | - |
| 2016-17 | $9,736 | $16,148 | $7,191 | $8,811 | 4.13% |
| 2017-18 | $10,278 | $16,706 | $7,872 | $9,492 | 3.46% |
| 2018-19 | $10,884 | $17,640 | $8,188 | $9,808 | 5.59% |
| 2019-20 | $11,284 | $18,065 | $8,555 | $10,175 | 2.41% |
| 2020-21 | $11,675 | $18,480 | $8,857 | $10,477 | 2.30% |
| 2021-22 | $11,675 | $18,480 | $8,857 | $10,477 | |
| 2022-23 | $11,978 | $18,961 | $9,088 | $10,747 | 2.60% |
| 2023-24 | $11,978 | $18,961 | $9,088 | $10,747 | |
| 2024-25 | $12,338 | $19,531 | $9,360 | $11,069 | 3.01% |
The cost of purchasing books & supplies which are required/recommended for courses $1,200, and it has not changed since 2015.
| Year | Books & Supplies | Change by Year |
|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | $1,200 | - |
| 2016-17 | $1,200 | |
| 2017-18 | $1,200 | |
| 2018-19 | $1,200 | |
| 2019-20 | $1,200 | |
| 2020-21 | $1,200 | |
| 2021-22 | $1,200 | |
| 2022-23 | $1,200 | |
| 2023-24 | $1,200 | |
| 2024-25 | $1,200 |
The living costs including room, board, and other living expenses have increased 34.12% when a student lives on-campus facilities and 14.00% when living-off campus from the year 2015 to 2025. The following table shows the changes in living costs at Salem State University.
| Year | Living On Campus | Living Off Campus | Change by Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | $13,765 | $13,596 | - |
| 2016-17 | $14,546 | $13,712 | 5.67% |
| 2017-18 | $14,746 | $14,070 | 1.37% |
| 2018-19 | $15,542 | $14,204 | 5.40% |
| 2019-20 | $15,836 | $14,224 | 1.89% |
| 2020-21 | $16,374 | $14,248 | 3.40% |
| 2021-22 | $16,374 | $14,248 | |
| 2022-23 | $16,738 | $14,248 | 2.22% |
| 2023-24 | $18,162 | $14,248 | 8.51% |
| 2024-25 | $18,622 | $15,760 | 2.53% |
The following table compares 2025 tuition and increase rate from last year between Salem State University and similar schools.
| 2025 | 2024 | Increase Rate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salem State University | $19,531 ($12,338) | $18,961 ($11,978) | 3.01% |
| University of Massachusetts-Amherst | $40,449 ($17,772) | $39,293 ($17,357) | 2.94% |
| University of Massachusetts-Lowell | $36,264 ($16,966) | $35,396 ($16,570) | 2.45% |
| University of Massachusetts-Boston | $38,115 ($15,898) | $37,171 ($15,495) | 2.54% |
| Bridgewater State University | $17,874 ($11,734) | $17,529 ($11,389) | 1.97% |
| University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth | $32,567 ($15,612) | $31,750 ($15,208) | 2.57% |
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