High-Quality Education at an Affordable Price

You may qualify for free tuition and mandatory fees.

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 without paying tuition or mandatory fees.

How do I apply?

• All admitted and current students who complete the FAFSA by May 1, 2026.

Who is it for and what's included?

• For first-time or transfer students pursuing their first bachelor's degree
• Covers only tuition and mandatory fees
• Does not include costs like housing, books, travel, or health insurance, but additional financial resources may be available to help

Who qualifies?

To be eligible, students must meet the following criteria:

• Massachusetts resident for at least one year
• Household income of $75,000 or less
• Full-time undergraduate day student (12-18 credits)
• Demonstrated financial need

How does it work?

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

No additional forms are required; eligibility is determined during the financial aid process.

An affordable degree is still within reach! Nearly 50% of students attend Salem State for free.

For families with incomes above this level, the recent expansion of federal and state financial aid programs, combined with our own institutional financial aid and scholarship opportunities, will enable eligible Viking students to pursue their bachelor’s degree with minimal to no tuition and fee costs.

How do I apply?

Be an admitted or current student and complete the FAFSA by May 1, 2026.

No additional forms are required; eligibility is determined during the financial aid process.

You’ll automatically get a discounted tuition rate.

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, instantly saving over $5,000 a year at Salem State.

Reduced tuition doesn’t mean less support — you’re still eligible for aid and scholarships.

How do I apply?

Be an admitted or current student and complete the FAFSA by May 1, 2026.

No additional forms are required; eligibility is determined during the financial aid process.

You’ll receive a $6,000 tuition award.

All out-of-state students (beyond New England) are automatically awarded a $6,000 tuition reduction, significantly lowering their cost to the in-state rate.

For 2025-2026, you’ll pay $14,117 in tuition and fees instead of the $20,116.80 sticker price.

Bonus: You can still be considered for additional financial aid and scholarships!

How do I apply?

Be an admitted or current student and complete the FAFSA by May 1, 2026.

No additional forms are required; eligibility is determined during the financial aid process.

You may qualify for in-state rates and scholarships.

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

Salem State also partners with TheDream.US to offer scholarships of up to $33,000 to help cover tuition and fees toward 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 pay for books, supplies and transportation.

Learn more about financial aid pathways for undocumented students.