by our College Data Analytics TeamSalem State earned 22 ranking badges in the 2027 College Factual rankings: 0 in the top 1%, 1 in the top 5%, 8 in the top 10% and 13 in the top 15% of the schools in each ranking. Its highest placement is #147 of 4,939 in Best for Veterans, a top 5% award.
Key facts
Source: IPEDS 2025; College Scorecard July 2026; College Factual rankings 2027. Data as of: July 2026.
Salem State University holds 22 ranking badges across 6 fields of study, 1 of them in the top 5% or better; each badge is an award for placing in the top 15% of a ranking. Our rankings are refreshed through the year as new data arrives. The awards below are from the 2027 edition. Each row marks the highest award tier reached in that ranking. Explore our data sources and methodologies. College administrators who want to showcase these awards through our badge program can contact us.
| Award Level | Badges |
|---|---|
| Top 1% | 0 |
| Top 5% | 1 |
| Top 10% | 8 |
| Top 15% | 13 |
| Total | 22 |
Salem State University is best known for Law Enforcement & Firefighting: 3 of its 12 traditional-student awards are in that field. Its top-ranked majors include Social Work, General Education and Fire Protection. Its highest traditional-student placement is #59 of 708 in Most Focused for Social Work.
| Ranking | Top 15% | Top 10% | Top 5% | Top 1% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall Best | ✓ | |||
| Best for the Money (New England) | ✓ | |||
| Best for the Money (Massachusetts) | ✓ | |||
| Most Popular (New England) | ✓ | |||
| Most Popular (Massachusetts) | ✓ |
| Ranking | Top 15% | Top 10% | Top 5% | Top 1% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General Education | ||||
| Most Popular | ✓ |
| Ranking | Top 15% | Top 10% | Top 5% | Top 1% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top Ranked | ✓ | |||
| Criminal Justice & Corrections | ||||
| Top Ranked | ✓ | |||
| Fire Protection | ||||
| Top Ranked | ✓ |
| Ranking | Top 15% | Top 10% | Top 5% | Top 1% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Social Work | ||||
| Highest Paid Graduates | ✓ | |||
| Most Focused | ✓ |
| Ranking | Top 15% | Top 10% | Top 5% | Top 1% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geography & Cartography | ||||
| Most Focused | ✓ |
Salem State University earned no athletics badge in the 2027 edition; its highest placement in College Factual’s sports rankings is #186 of 230 in Golf (D3).
Salem State University earned no online-program badge in the 2027 edition; its highest placement in College Factual’s online-program rankings is #42 of 257 in Most Popular Online for Educational Administration (top 17%).
In College Factual’s 2027 veterans rankings, Salem State University earned 10 badges, 1 of them in the top 5% or better; its highest placement is #147 of 4,939 in Best for Veterans.
| Ranking | Top 15% | Top 10% | Top 5% | Top 1% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for Veterans | ✓ |
| Ranking | Top 15% | Top 10% | Top 5% | Top 1% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top Ranked Veterans | ✓ | |||
| Health/Medical Admin Services | ||||
| Top Ranked Veterans | ✓ | |||
| Nursing | ||||
| Top Ranked Veterans | ✓ | |||
| Rehabilitation Professions | ||||
| Top Ranked Veterans | ✓ |
| Ranking | Top 15% | Top 10% | Top 5% | Top 1% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top Ranked Veterans | ✓ | |||
| Criminal Justice & Corrections | ||||
| Top Ranked Veterans | ✓ | |||
| Fire Protection | ||||
| Top Ranked Veterans | ✓ |
| Ranking | Top 15% | Top 10% | Top 5% | Top 1% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Top Ranked Veterans | ✓ | |||
| General Psychology | ||||
| Top Ranked Veterans | ✓ |
Each ranking here is based primarily on data from the U.S. Department of Education, 2027 edition. Salem State University appears in 190 of the College Factual rankings covered on this page.
More about our data sources and methodologies.