Salem State vs Sonoma State
What each college publishes, side by side. Cost, admission, graduation, earnings and debt come from federal data.
B-Compass Score: Good (grade B-): below the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges.Salem State UniversitySalem, MACompass Score: GoodBCompass Score: Good (grade B): below the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges.Sonoma State UniversityRohnert Park, CACompass Score: Good · Top 41%
At a glance
- Sonoma State has the higher graduation rate: 58% against 50% at Salem State.
- For families earning $48,001 to $75,000, Sonoma State has the lower price after aid: $10,741 a year, against $13,821 at Salem State.
- Sonoma State has the lower average price after aid: $12,885 a year, against $15,996 at Salem State.
Scores
Compass Score
B-Compass Score: Good (grade B-): below the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges.
BCompass Score: Good (grade B): below the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges. Top 41%
Academic Excellence
BAcademic Excellence: Good (grade B): below the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges. Top 41%
BAcademic Excellence: Good (grade B): below the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges. Top 39%
Value
B+Value: Very good (grade B+): the top 35% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges. Top 35%
AValue: Exceptional (grade A): the top 10% of rated colleges. Letters are set by rank among rated colleges. Top 4%
The college
Category
Regional universities
Regional universities
Location
Salem, MA
Rohnert Park, CA
Setting
Suburb
Suburb
Students
6,239
5,990
Sports
NCAA Division III · Massachusetts State College Athletic Association
NCAA Division II · California Collegiate Athletic Association
Admission
Admission rate
96%
93%
Average SAT
Not reported
Not reported
ACT middle 50%
Not reported
Not reported
Outcomes
Graduation rate
50%
58%
First-year retention
75%
79%
Median earnings 10 years after entry
$56,662
$65,986
Median debt
$25,000
$16,705
Cost
Average price after aid
$15,996
$12,885
Price after aid, by family income
Up to $30,000
$10,516
$8,310
$30,001–$48,000
$13,870
$9,795
$48,001–$75,000
$13,821
$10,741
$75,001–$110,000
$17,590
$13,897
Over $110,000
$23,223
$21,195
Top majors by graduate earnings
Bachelor's majors
- Nursing $95,550
- Computing and information science $92,380
- Chemistry $81,266
- Business administration $67,789
- Biology $67,551
- Nursing $143,886
- Electrical engineering $112,757
- Computer science $106,181
- Economics $83,668
- Business administration $75,887
Compare with another college
The Compass Score and grades are College Compass Guide’s own ratings. Cost, admission, graduation, earnings and debt are federal data. This comparison doesn’t rank the two colleges; the figures are shown as published.