Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Salem

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Salem Common Historic DistrictSalem Common Historic District · Photo: Magicpiano · CC BY-SA 3.0
Colleges in and near Salem

Massachusetts School of Law is 7.4 miles from Salem

No college sits inside Salem’s boundary, but Massachusetts School of Law’s campus in Andover, with 284 students on campus, is 7.4 miles from the center of town, and Nashua Community College is 15.3 miles away in Nashua. About 4% of Salem’s residents are enrolled in college, below New Hampshire (6%).

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Salem. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
5
22,594 students on campus
Nearest college
7.4 mi
Massachusetts School of Law
Residents in college
4%
Below NH (6%)
Nearest community college
15.3 mi
Nashua · $7,140 tuition
Nearest public university
18.6 mi
University of New Hampshire at Manchester · $15,838 in-state
Median household income
$110K
prices below start here

What stands out about college from Salem

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A college 7.4 miles awayMassachusetts School of Law has 284 students on campus in Andover.A community college 15.3 miles awayNashua Community College in Nashua: tuition and fees $7,140 a year for New Hampshire residents.In-state price at University of New Hampshire at ManchesterLiving in New Hampshire, the University of New Hampshire at Manchester charges $15,838 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $36,418. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 4% of residentsBelow New Hampshire (6%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Salem

Three private colleges within 12.4 miles, one public college within 10.8 miles, and Northern Essex Community College 8.8 miles away. The nearest public four-year college, University of New Hampshire at Manchester, is 18.6 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miUniversity of Massachusetts-LowellMerrimack CollegeNorthern EssexSalem
University or collegeCommunity college
Massachusetts School of LawUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 284 on campus · 7.4 mi · Andover, MAGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.Northern Essex Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,674 on campus · 8.8 mi · Haverhill, MA$6knet price21%graduate$43kearningsTuition and fees: $6,732 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Merrimack CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 4,664 on campus · 9.6 mi · North Andover, MA70%admitted$38knet price70%graduate$76kearningsUniversity of Massachusetts-LowellUniversity or college · Public · 11,742 on campus · 10.8 mi · Lowell, MA83%admitted$17knet price65%graduate$65kearningsRivier UniversityUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 2,230 on campus · 12.4 mi · Nashua83%admitted$28knet price52%graduate$52kearnings

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at Over $110k, where Salem’s median household income ($110,490) falls.

Northern Essex Community College8.8 mi · Haverhill, MA · sticker $13,201 · tuition $6,732$12,476a year
University of New Hampshire at Manchester18.6 mi · Manchester · sticker $20,020$16,386a year
University of Massachusetts-Lowell10.8 mi · Lowell, MA · sticker $30,786$26,139a year
Rivier University12.4 mi · Nashua · sticker $53,499$31,359a year
Merrimack College9.6 mi · North Andover, MA · sticker $70,038$41,050a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Northern EssexMerrimack CollegeUniversity of Massachusetts-LowellRivier University
University of Massachusetts-Lowell65% graduate$65k earnings$24k typical debt
Merrimack College70% graduate$76k earnings$27k typical debt
Northern Essex Community College21% graduate$43k earnings$9k typical debt
Rivier University52% graduate$52k earnings$27k typical debt
University of New Hampshire at Manchester50% graduate$66k earnings*$27k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid. *Reported for all the campuses that file together: University of New Hampshire at Manchester (4).

Questions about college near Salem

Is Salem a college town?

No. About 4 of every 100 Salem residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below New Hampshire (6). The nearest campus, Massachusetts School of Law, is 7.4 miles away in Andover.

What colleges are near Salem?

Within 15 miles: Massachusetts School of Law (7.4 miles, 284 students on campus), Northern Essex Community College (8.8 miles, 3,674), Merrimack College (9.6 miles, 4,664), the University of Massachusetts-Lowell (10.8 miles, 11,742) and Rivier University (12.4 miles, 2,230).

What is the closest community college to Salem, and what does it cost?

Nashua Community College in Nashua, 15.3 miles away. Tuition and fees are $7,140 a year for New Hampshire residents; the federal net price, $23,154, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does the University of New Hampshire at Manchester cost if we live in New Hampshire?

Tuition and fees are $15,838 a year in-state and $36,418 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $3,181 (under $30,000 income) to $16,386 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

Neighbors talk college

Students, parents, alumni and the neighbors next door.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Salem. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →