College can be expensive. The Financial Aid Office at Salem State is here to help. Our primary goal is to help students achieve their educational potential by assisting them with navigating the financial aid process and affording the cost of their education. We do this by awarding federal, state, and institutional aid, including grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans.
What is Financial Aid?
Financial aid is money from federal and state governments that helps pay for a student's educational expenses. Awards might be based on grades, financial needs, talents, or circumstances. They can come from several sources, including federal and state governments and institutional aid.
Financial aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Salem State offers a combination of need-based (aid that solely takes into account a student's and their family's ability to pay for college) and merit-based (aid based on a student's achievements and academic performance, typically in the form of a scholarship that does not need to be repaid) aid.
Aid types include grants, scholarships, state tuition waiver programs, work-study, and loans. Aid is divided into two categories: gift aid and self-help aid.
- Gift aid can be need-based or merit-based aid given to a student without the obligation of repayment; most grants, scholarships, and tuition waivers fall into this category.
- Self-help aid is either a work-study award that must be earned through a job on campus or a loan that must be paid back.
Video Guidance
Visit our videos on understanding your financial aid award and paying your university bill.
How to Apply for Financial Aid
The 2024-2025 FAFSA is available starting in December 2023 at no cost to students.
Students, their families, or other FAFSA contributors will need a secure username, called an FSA ID, and a password to complete the FAFSA the first time they complete it. The FSA ID allows students and contributors to complete and sign the FAFSA electronically. Keep this information safe and accessible; it will be used each year a FAFSA is completed. The FAFSA is required each year a student attends Salem State and would like to receive financial aid.
Based on the information from the FAFSA, students will be considered for all federal, state, and institutional aid. The FAFSA is required to be considered for Salem State scholarships and many other scholarships.
To apply for financial aid, complete the following steps:
- Create an account at studentaid.gov.
- Students and contributors must provide personal demographic and financial information, such as their federal income tax returns, W-2 forms, bank statements, and information on their investments when completing the FAFSA,
- Be sure to list Salem State University in the school information section so we may receive your FAFSA information. Salem State's Federal School Code is 002188.
- Complete, electronically sign, and submit the FAFSA.
Are there Deadlines?
The Massachusetts state deadline for the 2024-2025 aid year is July 1.
- Are you from another state? Check your state deadline.
Need Help Filing Out the FAFSA?
If students need help filling out the FAFSA form while on studentaid.gov, they can:
- While in the online FAFSA form, select the white question mark icon next to a question to view a ToolTip that provides information about answering that question.
- Visit the FAFSA Help page, view trending FAFSA topics, browse FAQs, search for more information, or select Contact Us.
- Once you select Contact Us, you can email your question or chat (in English or Spanish) with live technical support staff during business hours.
Salem State University has partnered with the MassEdCO Educational Opportunity Center to provide additional support to students and families needing assistance with the FAFSA process. The MassEdCo Educational Opportunity Center can assist with the following:
- Understanding the college application process and how to fill out an application
- Understanding the financial aid process and completing the FAFSA
- Deciding what to study and choosing an academic program that matches their career interests
- if applicable, transfer to Salem State, and much more!
For additional information, please contact the North Shore Area Educational Opportunity Center in Lynn, Massachusetts.
Understanding Your Costs
Cost of Attendance
The Cost of Attendance (COA) is the estimated cost of completing a full academic year at Salem State University. COA includes:
- the estimate of tuition and mandatory fees
- the cost of room and board (or living expenses for students who do not contract with the school for room and board)
- the cost of books, supplies, transportation, loan fees, and miscellaneous expenses (including a reasonable amount for the documented cost of a personal computer)
- an allowance for child care or other dependent care
- costs related to a disability
- and/or reasonable costs for eligible study-abroad programs
Net Price and Net Price Calculator
Net Price is the amount a student pays to attend an institution in a single academic year AFTER subtracting scholarships and grants they receive.
Students and their families can use the Net Price Calculator to estimate the cost of attendance at Salem State University. The tool allows prospective students and their families to enter information about themselves to find out what students like them paid to attend the institution in the previous two years after taking grants and scholarship aid into account. The information received is only an estimate and is not considered the final cost.
Undergraduate Estimated Tuition Worksheet
Students can use the Undergraduate Estimated Tuition Worksheet to estimate their undergraduate tuition. For information on tuition and fees, please visit Tuition and Fees and Understanding Tuition and Fees.
Student Emergency Fund
The Salem State University Emergency Funds were created through the generous donations of alumni, community members, local businesses, staff, faculty, and students to support unexpected personal financial emergencies. Applying does not guarantee that you will be eligible to receive funds, as funds are based on various factors, including, but not limited to, availability of funds, matriculation status, and the nature of the emergency.
Please visit Student Emergency Fund Request for more information on the application process.
Still Have Questions?
Contact the Student Navigation Center if you need help or have questions about Salem State. The Student Navigation Center can check whether we received a FAFSA, have trouble logging into a Salem State Navigator account, have billing questions, and more.
Contact Us
Financial Aid
352 Lafayette St.
Salem, MA 01970