Salem State University: Nursing Programs, NCLEX Pass Rate & Cost
Salem · Massachusetts · Public · school website
Salem State University runs 1 board-approved nursing program in Massachusetts (RN track). Its best 2025 first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate is 87% — below the Massachusetts average of 89.1%. Everything below comes from the state board of nursing and U.S. Department of Education data — not the school's marketing.
Nursing Programs at Salem State University
Board-approved programs and their 2025 first-time NCLEX pass rates. “—” means the board did not publish a 2025 rate for that program.
| Program | Track | Status | 2025 NCLEX pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baccalaureate Degree Nursing Program | RN | Conditional | 87% |
Cost & Admissions
Institution-level figures from the U.S. Department of Education — the whole school's numbers, not the nursing program's alone.
What Salem State University Nursing Graduates Earn
Federal earnings and debt data for graduates of this school's own nursing programs, by credential — not all alumni. Figures lag the current graduating class by several years; treat them as comparison floors, not salary predictions.
- Median pay, 1 yr out
- $80,641
- Median pay, 4 yrs out
- $95,550
- Median federal loan debt
- $27,000
- Graduates / yr
- 155
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the NCLEX pass rate at Salem State University?
Salem State University's RN program had a 87% first-time NCLEX-RN pass rate in 2025, per the Massachusetts board of nursing — the state average is 89.1% and the national average is 86.5%.
How much does Salem State University cost?
Salem State University's published in-state tuition / yr is $12,338, and the average net price after aid is $15,996 a year. That is the whole institution's sticker price, not the nursing program's alone, and most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
What do nursing graduates of Salem State University earn?
BSN / Bachelor’s graduates: $80,641 median one year out. These federal figures track this school’s own nursing-program graduates and lag the current class by several years.
How hard is it to get into Salem State University?
Salem State University admits 96% of applicants overall. Nursing programs typically admit separately — and more selectively — than the institution, so treat this as a lower bound on competitiveness.
About this data
Program list and 2025 first-time NCLEX pass rates come from the Massachusetts board of nursing's published approved-program materials. Tuition, admissions, earnings and debt come from the U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard (Most Recent Cohorts, June 10 2026 data release), matched by school name and city. Tuition and admissions describe the whole institution; earnings and debt are specific to its nursing programs, by credential. “—” means the source did not publish that figure.
- collegescorecard.ed.gov — Most Recent Cohorts, June 10 2026 data release
- www.mass.gov — list: Roster as of July 8, 2026; pass rate CY2025 first-time (NCSBN data, Board 2012-2025 report)