Welcome to Viking Country!

This is Salem State University.

Whether you live on campus or commute, there's a home for you here.

1. Submit Deposits

Submit your $250 non-refundable enrollment deposit and your $300 non-refundable housing deposit (if you are living on campus) online at navigator.salemstate.edu. All day and transfer students must pay enrollment deposit in order to register for orientation.

View instructions on how to submit a deposit online (PDF).

2. Apply for Financial Aid

Create a Federal Student Aid ID at fsaid.ed.gov.
Submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at fafsa.ed.gov. Salem State's school code is 002188.
We will notify you via email once we receive your FAFSA and if you are missing any documents. You can also check your Navigator account for any "to do" items.

Watch this video from FAFSA about how to apply for aid.

Questions?
Contact the Student Navigation Center at 978.542.8000 or navcenter@salemstate.edu.

3. Register for Orientation

All first-year and transfer students are required to attend an orientation program in August. At orientation, you will register for classes, meet new classmates, become familiar with campus, and begin your adventure as a new student

Orientation (for fall 2018 enrollment)
Go to salemstate.edu/orientation for dates and information, and registration online through Navigator.

Contact enrollment management with questions at 978.542.7455 or orientation@salemstate.edu.

4. Pick your First Year Seminar

All incoming first year and transfer students (with less than 15 credits) are required to take a First Year Seminar. These are innovative, exciting, three-credit courses designed and taught by professors who are passionate about the topic they have chosen. You'll be able to choose your First Year Seminar at orientation if you haven't already.

5. Complete your writing self placement

Completing this process will determine which writing class you will register for at orientation. Log in to writing self-placement (the username and password is the same as your Navigator account). Some students may have an exemption from first-year writing; please see our exemption policy.

6. Submit your immunization forms

Learn more about requirements for new students and access the immunization forms here. Make sure your documents have been received by checking the student health portal. A completed immunization form is required as part of our move-in policy.

7. Read the First Year Reading Experience book

Salem State’s First Year Reading Experience (FYRE) selection for the 2018-2019 academic year is The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. New students will receive a copy of the book at orientation and are required to read the book before the first day of classes.

On opening day (the day before classes begin in the fall), first-year students meet with faculty, librarians, administrators, staff, and upper-class students for small group conversations about the selected book. Many professors also incorporate the book and its themes into first year courses and events/speakers are planned throughout the entire academic year.

* please note that new transfer students are not required to participate in the FYRE

8. Log in to your SSU email

Once you have paid your enrollment deposit, you can access your SSU email. Access your Salem State email through Outlook in Office 365. Log in here and use the same username and password as your Navigator account.

Email is the official method of communication at Salem State, therefore you are expected to check your account regularly. You can, however, forward your Salem State email to another account.