Admission Policies

Salem State welcomes applications to our diverse range of graduate programs. Admission decisions are based on demonstrated qualifications for advanced academic study, as required by the New England Commission of Higher Education (Standard 4.23). Qualifications are evaluated rigorously using indicators of undergraduate achievement, recommendation letters, written statements, and other application materials. 

Admission Requirements for Full Acceptance into All Graduate Programs 

The following admission requirements apply to all graduate programs and represent the minimum requirements of the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) for full acceptance into a graduate program. Individual programs may have requirements that exceed those of the SGS, including: tests, essays, valid teaching certification, personal interviews, specific course preparation, or higher grade point averages. After reviewing the general requirements below, check if there are additional requirements listed on the program page. Then, you may complete the online graduate admissions application form and submit the non-refundable application fee. 

1. Request official transcripts documenting the award of a bachelor’s degree or an advanced degree (e.g., master’s degree) from an institution accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or a foreign equivalent be submitted directly from the registrar’s office at your previous institution or through an approved agency.
2. Demonstrate that you are prepared academically to enter the program by meeting one of these qualifications: 
   1. Final grade point average of 2.75 on a 4.0 scale in your bachelor’s degree,  
   2.  Awarded advanced degree (e.g., master’s degree), or 
   3. With approval from the Graduate Program Coordinator and Dean of the SGS, 
      1. Satisfactory scores on a relevant standardized test (e.g., Graduate Record Examinations, Graduate Management Admission Test, Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure), or 
      2. For professionals more than 5 years post graduation, a portfolio of work that is evaluated as acceptable by the Graduate Program Coordinator and the Dean of the SGS. 
3. Provide contact information for two references.  
   1. References receive automated requests to complete the ‘Reference for Graduate Admission’ form.  
   2. References may attach a letter but must complete the provided form too. 
   3. Appropriate references include professors, academic advisors, and in some cases, employers, supervisors, and other professional contacts. 
   4. Applicants who previously completed an advanced degree only require one reference to apply to a master’s degree or certificate program.
4. For International applicants,  
   1. Please review the admissions information for International Graduate Applicants to learn about the transcript evaluation process, the international application deadlines, and the additional documents required (e.g., financial documents, passport). 
   2. If you did not earn an academic degree from an institution where the language of instruction was English, documentation of English proficiency is required. Please review the English Proficiency Requirement webpage to learn more about the options available to satisfy this requirement.
5. Write a 500- to 1,000- word, double-spaced statement of purpose. Please check the program page for program-specific content requirements for the statement. If there are not program-specific requirements, please address the following questions: 
   1. What factors in your personal and professional history influenced you in the past and now lead you to seek admission to this program at Salem State?  
   2. What are your short- and long-term professional goals, and how will this program help you to meet them?  
   3. Is there any other information that you think would help the admission committee evaluate your application? 
6. Review program-specific requirements and submit supplemental application material if necessary.

Admission Decisions

All applications are reviewed by an admission committee, composed of some combination of program advisors, faculty, and administrators, which makes a recommendation to the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies. Admission decisions are final and will not be reconsidered without additional, new information.

Admission to the School of Graduate Studies is granted in one of the following categories based on the candidate’s qualifications:

1.  Acceptance. Accepted students meet all of the admission requirements and standards and can be matriculated into the program. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the University of intent to attend.
2. Conditional Acceptance. A conditionally-accepted student shows potential for success but has some component in their application that does not fully meet the admission standards of the program for which they are applying. These students will be admitted conditionally upon a specified condition being met and are not fully admitted to the program until they have met the stipulated condition. Students in this status are not eligible for federal financial aid.
3. Not accepted. Students who do not meet the requirements for admission will receive notification to that effect. Please note that some programs can accept only a limited number of applicants due to limited program capacity.
4. Deferred. In rare instances in which there is not sufficient evidence to make a decision, the admission committee may defer a decision and request further information.