Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Salisbury University #535 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $6,618 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Salisbury University in the 30.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Salisbury University #246 for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Salisbury University #535 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A public university in Salisbury, MD, Salisbury University enrolls roughly 6,057 undergraduates. Retention is 77.7% and the six-year graduation rate is 68.2%, placing the institution among regional peers for converting enrollment into degree completion. Where Salisbury University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks Salisbury University #809 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $61,985. Graduates earn about $6,618 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Salisbury University in the 30.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution's strength in Business and related fields drives these outcomes, with graduates moving into stable, well-paying careers that support long-term financial security. Access and affordability sit lower in the composite. Salisbury University sits in the 45.2 percentile for access and the 62.2 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. 25.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 29.2% are first-generation college students, reflecting a student body with meaningful financial need. Mobility outcomes place the institution in the 83.4 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, indicating solid upward progress for low-income graduates relative to comparable institutions.
Salisbury University's published cost of attendance is $28,310. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $6,743, middle-income families pay around $12,909, and higher-income families pay approximately $22,759. Azimuth ranks Salisbury University #539 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Salisbury University participates in federal need-based aid programs including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside state and institutional aid. The difference between published cost of attendance and net price reflects the institution's financial aid reach — a gap that matters substantially when evaluating true affordability. Most students receive some form of financial aid, reshaping the sticker price into a more manageable figure across income levels. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $33,815; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $61,985, median federal debt of $21,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $237 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Salisbury University is a strong fit for students interested in Business and applied fields who want a public university experience in MD. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $61,985, placing Salisbury University in the 52.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. They also earn about $6,618 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Salisbury University in the 30.4 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution enrolls a meaningful share of Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 25.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 29.2% are first-generation — and delivers mobility outcomes that place Salisbury University in the 71.1 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 87.5% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors Business and applied fields over research-oriented ones. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find the earnings trajectory among the strongest in South.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Salisbury University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Salisbury University's published cost of attendance is $28,310. Net price by income band shows meaningful variation: low-income families pay approximately $6,743, middle-income families pay around $12,909, and higher-income families pay approximately $22,759.
Azimuth ranks Salisbury University #539 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Salisbury University participates in federal need-based aid programs including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside state and institutional aid. The difference between published cost of attendance and net price reflects the institution's financial aid reach — a gap that [matters substantially](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) when evaluating true affordability.
Most students receive some form of financial aid, reshaping the sticker price into a more manageable figure across income levels. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $21,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $33,815; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $61,985, median federal debt of $21,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $237 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Salisbury University earn median 4-year earnings of $61,985, placing Salisbury University in the 52.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $6,618 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Salisbury University in the 30.4 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Salisbury University #809 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. The earnings pattern reflects Salisbury University's strength in business and professional fields.
Communication and Media Studies is the largest program with 156 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $56,048, performing at 1.0x the national benchmark for the field. The Psychology, General program graduates 148 students with median 4-year earnings of $50,319, and Kinesiology delivers median 4-year earnings of $59,892 across 145 graduates.
Teacher Education and Social Work round out the top programs, with graduates earning $55,807 and $59,110 respectively. The concentration in Business — which anchors the institution's degree output — aligns with stable regional labor-market demand and contributes to the consistent earnings outcomes across the student body.
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
30 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
29 graduates
Business/Managerial Economics
5 graduates
Accounting and Related Services
37 graduates
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
99 graduates
Salisbury University's program mix is anchored in business, education, and applied professional fields—a portfolio shaped by the institution's regional public university identity. Communication and Media Studies is the largest program with 156 graduates, followed by Psychology, General, Kinesiology, Teacher Education, and Social Work.
Across 0 ranked programs serving roughly 1,695 students annually, the institution's strength clusters in business and professional-track fields where employers recruit actively in the Mid-Atlantic region. The earnings pattern reflects this applied-professional orientation.
Nursing leads with median earnings of $86,233 four years after enrollment, followed by Finance at $80,478, Digital Marketing at $70,597, Business Administration at $66,519, and Biology, General at $62,407. Business represents 15% of graduates, making it the institution's primary focus, with Education at 10% and Social Sciences at 4% providing additional breadth.
These programs are predominantly high-mobility pathways where graduates enter the workforce directly and earnings reflect regional labor-market outcomes. Business, accounting, and professional management fields support strong early-career pay and stable employer demand in the Mid-Atlantic corridor.
The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how Salisbury University's dominant program families align with regional and national labor-market trends.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Indiana University Of Pennsylvania-Main Campus Similar quality tier (#15625 ranked) | PA | 91% | $51,019 | #15625 | Compare |
Pittsburg State University Similar quality tier (#15631 ranked) | KS | 89% | $50,579 | #15631 | Compare |
University Of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Similar quality tier (#15633 ranked) | WI | 92% | $52,021 | #15633 | Compare |
Western Washington University Similar quality tier (#15605 ranked) | WA | 93% | $62,569 | #15605 | Compare |
Colorado Mesa University Similar quality tier (#15645 ranked) | CO | 82% | $45,823 | #15645 | Compare |
