Salisbury vs. Penn State

Salisbury University and Penn State Main Campus side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Salisbury University
Penn State Main Campus

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Penn State (60.6% admitted vs 87.5%). Typical SAT 1330 vs 1250.
  • Cheaper after aid: Salisbury. Average net price is $18,760 vs $27,889 at Penn State.
  • Graduation: Salisbury 67% vs Penn State 87%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Salisbury $52,000 vs Penn State $55,300 (median).
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Key differences

Salisbury University Penn State Main Campus
Acceptance rate
Penn State more selective
Salisbury87.5%
Penn State60.6%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Penn State higher
Salisbury1180-1320
Penn State1240-1420
Average net price
Salisbury $9,129 less
Salisbury$18,760
Penn State$27,889
In-state tuition
Salisbury $9,560 less
Salisbury$11,084
Penn State$20,644
Out-of-state tuition
Salisbury $19,616 less
Salisbury$22,174
Penn State$41,790
Graduation rate
Penn State +20 pts
Salisbury67%
Penn State87%
Median earnings (10 years)
Penn State +$3,300
Salisbury$52,000
Penn State$55,300

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Salisbury 8,845
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Salisbury 7,737
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance rate
  • Salisbury 87.5%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Salisbury 18.4%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Salisbury 1250
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Salisbury 24
  • Penn State 29
  • Average high school GPA
  • Salisbury 3.73
  • Penn State -
  • Typical high school grades
  • Salisbury A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions standards
  • Salisbury Challenging
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant competition
  • Salisbury
  • Penn State Low
  • SAT range
  • Salisbury 1180-1320
  • Penn State 1240-1420
  • ACT range
  • Salisbury 20-29
  • Penn State 27-32
  • Submit test scores
  • Salisbury Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Salisbury Jan 15, 2027
  • Penn State
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Salisbury $11,084
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Salisbury $22,174
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & board
  • Salisbury $13,900
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average net price
  • Salisbury $18,760
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average grant aid
  • Salisbury $9,124
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Salisbury 88%
  • Penn State 37%
  • Graduation rate
  • Salisbury 67%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Salisbury $52,000
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making student loan payments
  • Salisbury 68%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Salisbury $20,153
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median loan payment
  • Salisbury $208
  • Penn State $277
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Salisbury 14:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular majors
  • Salisbury
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)
  • Location
  • Salisbury Salisbury, MD
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Salisbury Small Suburban
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Salisbury 7,025
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Salisbury Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Salisbury #352
  • Penn State #185

Comparable Facts

Compare Salisbury University in Salisbury, MD with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than Salisbury based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 7,025 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Salisbury University is located in Salisbury, MD (Small Suburban setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Salisbury University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Salisbury University 14:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Salisbury University are 4% lower than at Penn State Main Campus ($13,900 vs. $14,474).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 88.5% higher at Penn State than at Salisbury University (about $19,616 more per year; $41,790 vs. $22,174).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Salisbury University than at Penn State Main Campus (88% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Main Campus students is 24.2% larger than aid received by Salisbury University students ($11,336 vs. $9,124).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 5 points higher at Penn State than at Salisbury (29 vs. 24, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Salisbury and Penn State.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Salisbury Jan 15, 2027.
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.4% at Salisbury vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Salisbury University graduates have a $6,665 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($20,153 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Salisbury graduates have an estimated $69 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($208 vs. $277).
  • More Penn State graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salisbury students, three years after graduation (69% vs. 68%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.

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