High-Quality Education at an Affordable Price

Attend tuition-free!

Thanks to the Remarkable Salem State Difference, a recently introduced institutional financial aid initiative, Massachusetts residents with household incomes of $75,000 or less and demonstrated financial need can attend Salem State tuition-and mandatory fee-free.

Salem State will cover the full cost of tuition and mandatory fees* for eligible students through a combination of federal, state, and institutional aid, including:

• Federal Pell Grant
• State programs like MassGrant, MassGrant Plus (and Expansion)
• Institutional aid and scholarships from Salem State

*Does not include costs such as housing, books, travel, or health insurance, but additional financial resources may be available to help

To be eligible, students must meet the following criteria:

• Massachusetts resident for at least one year
• Household income of $75,000 or less
• Demonstrate financial need 
• Be a first-time or transfer undergraduate student pursuing their first bachelor's degree.
• Undergraduate students must be enrolled full-time (12-18 credits) in Day College courses. 
  • Continuing Education and Evening courses do not count toward the total enrolled credit hours for this award.

We make college affordable for everyone! 98% of students receive financial aid.

For families earning above this level, the expansion of federal and state programs, together with our institutional aid and scholarships, helps eligible Viking students pursue their bachelor’s degrees with minimal or no tuition and fees.

You'll save thousands on tuition!

Students from Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont qualify for reduced tuition through the New England Board of Higher Education (NEBHE) Tuition Break Program, lowering their costs to near the in-state rate. 

You may also be considered for additional financial aid and scholarships.

You’ll automatically receive $6,000 off tuition!

All out-of-state students outside New England receive a $6,000 tuition reduction, bringing their cost near the in-state rate.

You may also be considered for additional financial aid and scholarships.

You may qualify for in-state tuition and The Dream.US National Scholarship!

If you attended a Massachusetts high school for at least three years and graduated or earned a GED or HiSET, you may qualify for in-state tuition and fees.

Salem State partners with TheDream.US | Scholarships for Dreamer Students to offer scholarships of up to $33,000 to help cover tuition and fees for a bachelor’s degree. 

Awards are renewable based on continued eligibility. Some students may also receive an additional stipend of up to $6,000 to help cover books, supplies, and transportation costs.

Learn more about financial aid options for undocumented students.