Admit rate has ranged 70%–75% over the last 5 years. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Salve Regina University is a small Catholic liberal arts college perched on the scenic cliffs of Newport, Rhode Island, where Gilded Age mansions double as academic buildings. With a 68% acceptance rate and a strong emphasis on community service, Salve Regina attracts students drawn to its intimate classes, nursing and business programs, and a campus that feels like a coastal retreat. The university's 75% graduation rate and $36K+ median early-career earnings reflect its focus on practical outcomes.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Demonstrated competencies
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
2,121
In-state tuition
$50,100
Out-of-state tuition
$50,100
Location
Newport, RI (oceanfront)
Acceptance Rate
68%
Graduation Rate
75%
On-Campus Housing
59% of students
Most Popular Major
Nursing
Median Early-Career Earnings
$36,427
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$72,975
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.0×
Median debt at graduation
$27,000
Graduation rate
77%
First-year retention
83%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
81%
Pell (lower-income) share
32%
First-generation share
19%
Endowment / student
$43,545
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing$69,477
Accounting and Related Services$63,997
Economics$48,432
Marketing$45,500
Special Education and Teaching$43,426
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
5
Per 1,000 students
2.36
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
110
Summer high
76°F
Winter low
30°F
Annual rain
53.2"
Annual snow
21.3"
Natural-hazard risk
Very Low
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
49
Scholarly works
1,098
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
1.7%
Bottom → top quintile
44%
From bottom quintile
4%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Salve Regina University?
Salve Regina University's acceptance rate is approximately 68% (Newport, RI), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Salve Regina University?
Admitted students at Salve Regina University typically score 1160–1330 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Salve Regina University cost?
At Salve Regina University, the average net price (after aid) is about $36,967 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Salve Regina University?
Salve Regina University enrolls approximately 2,121 undergraduate students.
Where is Salve Regina University located?
Salve Regina University is located in Newport, RI.
Admissions
Salve Regina maintains a moderately selective admissions process with a 68% acceptance rate, admitting 4,228 of 6,202 applicants in 2024. The middle 50% of admitted students score between 1188–1310 on the SAT or 26–29 on the ACT, with 36% holding GPAs of 3.75+. Test-optionalA policy where you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you don't, the rest of your application carries more weight. since at least 2021, the university emphasizes Holistic admissionsA review that weighs the whole applicant — grades, essays, activities, and context — rather than relying on test scores and GPA alone. over standardized metrics. Notably, only about half of admitted students enroll (2,135 from 4,228 acceptances in 2024), suggesting competition with nearby coastal New England schools.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$41,119
Communication and Media Studies$37,568
Business Administration, Management and Operations$36,042
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Academics
Rooted in a liberal arts core, Salve Regina’s academic strengths include nursing (its most popular major), business, and biology. The Princeton Review highlights its "research-driven" sciences and pre-professional tracks, while US News notes the dominance of business and health professions (together comprising nearly half of majors). Small classes are the norm—the university touts a low student-faculty ratio that enables personalized attention, though the exact ratio isn’t publicly quantified. Unique offerings like biochemistry and acting coexist with practical programs in criminal justice and secondary education, reflecting a blend of traditional and career-focused learning.
Life at Salve Regina revolves around its stunning oceanfront campus—a collection of repurposed Newport mansions where "the landscape makes studying more enjoyable" (Niche). 59% of students live on campus, fostering tight-knit communities in dorms that prioritize "considerate neighbor" dynamics. The Multicultural Student Organization and 50+ other clubs host events year-round, while Newport’s beaches and historic downtown offer off-campus diversion. Dining and social hubs like McKillop Library (featured in student TikToks) serve as de facto living rooms. Though only 41% commute, the university actively promotes inclusivity, with mission-driven "kindness" as a stated value.
Salve Regina reports a 75–76% graduation rate—above the national average—with most students earning degrees in 4.1 years. Within six months, 97% of graduates are employed or in grad school, though early-career earnings are modest ($36,427 at one year post-graduation, rising to $53,383 later). Median student debt is $27K, and the university claims a 7.6-year "earn-back" period for tuition investment. Nursing and business alumni likely pull up earnings averages, given those programs’ prominence. The career office emphasizes practical preparation, with caps proclaiming "The rest is still unwritten" at graduation.
With a net price of $37,794 after aid, Salve Regina is typical of private New England colleges—but 100% of incoming students receive grants or scholarships, averaging $36,143 per package. Need-based aidFinancial aid awarded based on your family's ability to pay, as measured by forms like the FAFSA, rather than on achievements. and merit scholarships (like the $22K/year Pell Honors Program) offset the $54K+ sticker price. The university urges families to use its Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. calculator, noting that 63% of undergraduates benefit from financial assistance. Still, the average debt at graduation suggests many students take loans to cover remaining costs.
Salve Regina’s Gilded Age campus—where students attend classes in mansions overlooking the Atlantic—is unmatched outside Ivy League elites like Brown or Yale. Its Catholic identity manifests in service-learning and a core curriculum emphasizing ethics, while Newport’s naval history and tourism economy provide real-world labs for business and criminal justice majors. The university punches above its weight with strong nursing outcomes and a graduation rate 15+ points above similar regional colleges. For students seeking a close-knit, values-driven community with postcard-worthy vistas, Salve Regina offers a singular blend of New England charm and career pragmatism.
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