Salisbury vs. Penn State Harrisburg

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

Salisbury University
Penn State Harrisburg

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Salisbury (87.5% admitted vs 97.6%). Typical SAT 1250 vs 1220.
  • Cheaper after aid: Salisbury. Average net price is $18,760 vs $23,788 at Penn State Harrisburg.
  • Graduation: Salisbury 67% vs Penn State Harrisburg 63%.
  • Earnings 10 years out: Salisbury $52,000 vs Penn State Harrisburg $55,300 (median).
See your own chances ->

Key differences

Salisbury University Penn State Harrisburg
Acceptance rate
Salisbury more selective
Salisbury87.5%
Penn State Harrisburg97.6%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Salisbury higher
Salisbury1180-1320
Penn State Harrisburg1120-1310
Average net price
Salisbury $5,028 less
Salisbury$18,760
Penn State Harrisburg$23,788
In-state tuition
Salisbury $4,888 less
Salisbury$11,084
Penn State Harrisburg$15,972
Out-of-state tuition
Salisbury $4,784 less
Salisbury$22,174
Penn State Harrisburg$26,958
Graduation rate
Salisbury +4 pts
Salisbury67%
Penn State Harrisburg63%
Median earnings (10 years)
Penn State Harrisburg +$3,300
Salisbury$52,000
Penn State Harrisburg$55,300

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

Admission calculator

Partner

Not sure you'd get in? Check your chances at Salisbury and Penn State Harrisburg with Appily's free admission calculator.

Check my chances at Salisbury Check my chances at Penn State Harrisburg
  • Applied
  • Salisbury 8,845
  • Penn State Harrisburg 9,316
  • Admitted
  • Salisbury 7,737
  • Penn State Harrisburg 9,092
  • Acceptance rate
  • Salisbury 87.5%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 97.6%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Salisbury 18.4%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 11.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Salisbury 1250
  • Penn State Harrisburg 1220
  • Typical ACT score
  • Salisbury 24
  • Penn State Harrisburg 26
  • Average high school GPA
  • Salisbury 3.73
  • Penn State Harrisburg 3.48
  • Typical high school grades
  • Salisbury A-
  • Penn State Harrisburg B+
  • Admissions standards
  • Salisbury Challenging
  • Penn State Harrisburg Difficult
  • Applicant competition
  • Salisbury
  • Penn State Harrisburg
  • SAT range
  • Salisbury 1180-1320
  • Penn State Harrisburg 1120-1310
  • ACT range
  • Salisbury 20-29
  • Penn State Harrisburg 22-31
  • Submit test scores
  • Salisbury Test optional
  • Penn State Harrisburg Test optional
  • Application deadline
  • Salisbury Jan 15, 2027
  • Penn State Harrisburg
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Salisbury $11,084
  • Penn State Harrisburg $15,972
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Salisbury $22,174
  • Penn State Harrisburg $26,958
  • Room & board
  • Salisbury $13,900
  • Penn State Harrisburg $14,474
  • Average net price
  • Salisbury $18,760
  • Penn State Harrisburg $23,788
  • Average grant aid
  • Salisbury $9,124
  • Penn State Harrisburg $9,245
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Salisbury 88%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 63%
  • Graduation rate
  • Salisbury 67%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 63%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Salisbury $52,000
  • Penn State Harrisburg $55,300
  • Making student loan payments
  • Salisbury 68%
  • Penn State Harrisburg 69%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Salisbury $20,153
  • Penn State Harrisburg $26,818
  • Median loan payment
  • Salisbury $208
  • Penn State Harrisburg $277
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Salisbury 14:1
  • Penn State Harrisburg 15:1
  • Popular majors
  • Salisbury
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Penn State Harrisburg
    • Business (34%)
    • Engineering (23%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Communication (7%)
    • English and Literature (5%)
  • Location
  • Salisbury Salisbury, MD
  • Penn State Harrisburg Middletown, PA
  • Setting
  • Salisbury Small Suburban
  • Penn State Harrisburg Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Salisbury 7,025
  • Penn State Harrisburg 4,478
  • Type
  • Salisbury Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Harrisburg Public 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Salisbury #352
  • Penn State Harrisburg #574

Comparable Facts

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

Salisbury University is larger than Penn State Harrisburg based on total student enrollment (7,025 students vs. 4,478 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Salisbury University is located in Salisbury, MD (Small Suburban setting); Penn State Harrisburg is in Middletown, PA (Large Suburban setting).
  • Salisbury University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Harrisburg is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Salisbury University 14:1; Penn State Harrisburg 15:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Salisbury University are 4% lower than at Penn State Harrisburg ($13,900 vs. $14,474).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 21.6% higher at Penn State Harrisburg than at Salisbury University (about $4,784 more per year; $26,958 vs. $22,174).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Salisbury University than at Penn State Harrisburg (88% vs. 63%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Harrisburg students is 1.3% larger than aid received by Salisbury University students ($9,245 vs. $9,124).

Admissions details

  • Typical ACT composite is 2 points higher at Penn State Harrisburg than at Salisbury (26 vs. 24, midpoint estimate).
  • SAT or ACT scores are test optional at both Salisbury and Penn State Harrisburg.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Salisbury Jan 15, 2027.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Salisbury average a 3.73 high school GPA, 0.25 higher than at Penn State Harrisburg (3.48).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.4% at Salisbury vs. 11.2% at Penn State Harrisburg.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Salisbury University graduates have a $6,665 lower median loan debt than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($20,153 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Salisbury graduates have an estimated $69 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Harrisburg graduates ($208 vs. $277).
  • More Penn State Harrisburg 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.

Change schools

You can add up to two more colleges. Each one gets its own column.

Salisbury University
Penn State Harrisburg
Add a college Compare up to 4

Frequently compared to these colleges