College · Catholic life on campus
Salem State University
- LocationSalem, MA
- Type and sizePublic · 4-year · 6,239 students
Salem State University is not a Catholic college. This rating measures Catholic life on campus: campus ministry, priests, Mass and confession, student groups, and nearby parishes.
Catholic churches nearby
- Immaculate Conception Church — 1.2 mi · 15 Hawthorne Boulevard
- Star of the Sea Catholic Church — 1.7 mi · 85 Atlantic Avenue
- St. Thomas the Apostle Pariah — 2.3 mi · 1 Margin Street, Peabody
- Discalced Carmelite Nuns — 2.9 mi · 15 Mount Carmel Road
Within 3 miles, as mapped by OpenStreetMap contributors. The map may be incomplete. Confirm with the parish or diocese.
Catholic life scorecard
Each line is one thing we looked for. A check means yes, a half means partly, a dash means no. “Not enough information” means official sources did not say.
Catholic life on campus
Not enough information: official sources cover less than 60% of this area.
- Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.Catholic campus ministry serving this campus (Catholic center, campus ministry, or chaplaincy)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
- Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.Dedicated Catholic center or chapel on or next to campusNot enough information: not found in official sources.
- Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.Priest chaplain assigned to campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
- Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.Weekday Mass at the campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
- Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.Sunday Mass at the campus ministry or a campus chapelNot enough information: not found in official sources.
- Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.Scheduled confession at the campus ministryNot enough information: not found in official sources.
- Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.Catholic student groups and missionary outreach (e.g., FOCUS, Saint Paul's Outreach, Knights of Columbus, Bible studies)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
- Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.Formation programs (retreats, OCIA/RCIA, service, small groups)Not enough information: not found in official sources.
- Partly: Partly: the school meets some of this item and earns part of the points.Catholic church within walking distance (computed from OpenStreetMap)Within 3 milesComputed from OpenStreetMap church locations.
- Not enough information: Not enough information: official sources do not document this, so it is left out of the grade rather than counted as a no.Published weekly schedule of Mass, confession, and adorationNot enough information: no verified Mass times are recorded.
Grades come from the documented indicators under the published rubric. “Not enough information” does not mean the school lacks it.
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Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.50%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.75%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.Not reported
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.12 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$10,571
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
Campus facts
| Sports | NCAA Division III · Massachusetts State College Athletic Association |
|---|---|
| Setting | Suburb |
| ROTC | Army · Air Force |
| Study abroad | Offered |
| Students per faculty member | 12 to 1 |
Federal data (IPEDS). None of this changes the faith grades.
Cost and value
Federal data, shown separately. Cost, debt, and earnings are never part of any grade.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 4,853 |
|---|---|
| Total students | 6,239 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | $15,996 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $28,291 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $25,000 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 50% |
| First-year retention | 75% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $56,662 |
| Admission rate | 96% |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 35% |
Value index: 53 / 100 (how it’s computed)
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
Local Church
The Most Reverend Richard G. Henning, Archbishop of Boston
Formal address: “Your Excellency”
Source: usccb.org, verified Oct. 7, 2026.
Diocese determined from the county using NCES Catholic school records. Confirm with the diocese.
About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 167729
- Carnegie classification: Master's university (larger programs)
- Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
- Report an error or a newer source
- Respond as this school
Questions families ask
- Is Salem State University a Catholic college?
- No. Salem State University is not a Catholic college. Catholic School Compass rates the Catholic life on its campus instead.
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