Salisbury University
#10 Best Education Colleges in Maryland- Graduation Rate
- 68% B-
- Solid completion rate — most students graduate
- Earnings (10yr)
- $61,515 A-
- Well above the typical college graduate
- Net Price
- $17,743 C
- Close to the national average
- Acceptance Rate
- 87% D+
- Accessible to most qualified applicants
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 21.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $21.3 over 20 years. Ranked #10 in Best Education Colleges in Maryland.
Every $1 spent returns $21.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,441,234.
What The Data Says
-
A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
-
Graduates earn 51% more than the national college median.
-
Every $1 invested returns $21.3 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Salisbury University Matters
Salisbury University is a public university in Salisbury, MD and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network. The result: graduate earnings well above the typical college.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public University
- Carnegie Class
- Master's University
- Enrollment
- 6,057
- Setting
- Suburban
- Primary Strengths
- Business & Marketing, Education, Health Professions, Communications
Why students choose Salisbury University
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
Accessible — admits about 87% of applicants, with a middle-50% SAT of 1180–1320. Run your numbers in the admissions predictor below.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $17,743 a year after grants and scholarships — 4% above the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $61,515 ten years after enrolling — 51% above the typical college, against $21,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Strong cross-class social capital — an economic-connectedness score of 1.67 (Opportunity Insights).
See mobility →Overview
Salisbury University is a solid choice for students looking for a friendly campus environment with a diverse range of programs. With an acceptance rate of 87%, it welcomes a wide variety of applicants, making it an appealing option for many. Students here often pursue majors in areas like Business and Marketing, Health Professions, Education, Communications, and Psychology, which align well with career paths that are in demand today.
Looking at life after graduation, the average earnings for alumni ten years out is $61,515. This gives a good indication of the potential financial return on investment for students. While the graduation rate stands at 68%, many graduates find their footing in the workforce relatively quickly, enhancing their earning potential. The affordability of the school is also noteworthy, as it manages to keep costs reasonable for students, ensuring that education remains accessible.
When it comes to the practical aspects of attending Salisbury, the net price after aid is around $17,743, which is manageable for many families. Graduates leave with a median debt of $21,000, a figure that is quite reasonable compared to national averages. This environment tends to attract students who value a community-oriented college experience and who are looking to thrive academically while balancing their personal and financial goals.
Rankings
- #10 Best Education Colleges in Maryland
- #10 Best Communications Colleges in Maryland
- #12 Best Bachelor's Programs in Maryland
- #12 Best Master's Programs in Maryland
- #14 Best Psychology Colleges in Maryland
- #14 Best Biology Colleges in Maryland
- #23 Best Business Colleges in Maryland
- #24 Best Computer Science Colleges in Maryland
Can I Get In?
How selective Salisbury University is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Salisbury University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Salisbury, Maryland, Salisbury University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 87%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,252. The graduation rate is roughly 68%.
- Acceptance Rate
- 87%
- Retention Rate
- 78%
- SAT Average
- 1252
- SAT Range
- 1180–1320
- ACT Range
- 20–29
- Full-Time Faculty
- 68%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $10,679
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 13:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.49
- First-Gen Students
- 29%
- Applicants
- 8,108
- Admitted
- 7,383
Inside the Admissions Office
School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25
The acceptance rate tells you how hard Salisbury University is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 18% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school most admitted students ultimately pass on.
- Yield Rate
- 18%
- of admits enroll
- Submitted SAT
- 11%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Submitted ACT
- 100%
- of enrolled freshmen
- Early Decision Admit Rate
- 80.1%
- vs 87.5% overall
Applying early pays off here. Of 261 Early Decision applicants, 209 were admitted — a 80.1% admit rate, roughly 0.9× the 87.5% rate for the overall pool. That binding round alone filled about 15% of the entering class (209 of 1,423 first-years). The catch: Early Decision is a commitment you make before you can compare aid offers.
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Salisbury University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Salisbury University is $22,174, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $17,743. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,743 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $11,084
- Out-of-State
- $22,174
- Avg Net Price
- $17,743
- Median Debt
- $21,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 26%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 39%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $6,743
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $9,915
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $12,909
- Family Income $110K+
- $22,759
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Salisbury University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Salisbury University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Salisbury University earn a median of $61,515, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $51,926
- 8 Years
- $57,867
- 10 Years
- $61,515
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.34x
- Earning > $25K
- 73%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (565)
- 50%
- 100% (565)
- 50%
- 100% (565)
- 50%
- 100% (565)
- 50%
How Salisbury Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
College ROI Calculator
Is Salisbury University Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Salisbury University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $17,743/year ($70,972 total). Graduates earn $61,515 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,512,206 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,441,234 (21.3× your investment). The median debt is $21,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 68% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $70,972
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,512,206
- Net Return
- $1,441,234
- ROI Multiple
- 21.3×
- Cost Per Year
- $17,743
- Median Debt
- $21,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 68%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Federal Grants
- $2,183,225
- Investment Income
- $754,718
Top Programs
The fields Salisbury University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Business & Marketing 16% $69,178 early-career
- Education 12% $52,954 early-career
- Health Professions 11% $75,173 early-career
- Communications 9% $42,769 early-career
- Psychology 6% $36,475 early-career
- Computer Science & IT 5% $88,611 early-career
- Social Sciences 4% $58,011 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 4% $37,979 early-career
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Salisbury University's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Marketing Manager$156,580 · 8% growthAdaptable 64
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CAdvertising Manager$138,730 · 6% growthAdaptable 64
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Salisbury University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
As a public institution in Salisbury, Maryland, Salisbury University admits most of the students who apply; the acceptance rate is roughly 87%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,252. The graduation rate is roughly 68%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Salisbury University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Salisbury University is $22,174, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $17,743. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $6,743 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $21,000 in federal student loans.
Is Salisbury University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Salisbury University earn a median of $61,515, roughly in line with the national average for college graduates.
How Connected Is Salisbury University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Salisbury University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.67, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Does Salisbury University offer Early Decision, and does it improve admission chances?
Yes. Salisbury University offers a binding Early Decision plan, and it carries a real advantage: Early Decision applicants were admitted at 80%, about 0.9 times the overall 87% acceptance rate, and ED filled roughly 15% of the entering class. Because ED is binding, it makes sense only if Salisbury University is a clear first choice and you can commit before comparing aid offers (2024-25 Common Data Set).
Is Salisbury University really test-optional?
Salisbury University reports test-optional admission, but most enrolled students still submit scores: about 1% of first-year students sent an SAT or ACT (2024-25 Common Data Set). Submitting strong scores is the norm here.
What percentage of admitted students enroll at Salisbury University?
About 18% of admitted students choose to enroll at Salisbury University — its yield rate (2024-25 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Salisbury University.
- University of Wisconsin-PlattevillePlatteville, WI · Close peer58% grad $61,760 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Minnesota-DuluthDuluth, MN · Close peer65% grad $62,616 earn 89% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- Maryville University of Saint LouisSaint Louis, MO · Close peer69% grad $62,105 earn 95% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
- University of Wisconsin-StoutMenomonie, WI · Close peer54% grad $58,084 earn 88% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar size
- University of Alabama in HuntsvilleHuntsville, AL · Close peer63% grad $61,767 earn 69% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Georgia College & State UniversityMilledgeville, GA · Close peer63% grad $58,140 earn 78% acceptWhy: similar earnings · similar selectivity · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Salisbury University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at Salisbury University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.67, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.02), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 6% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note