Bowie State University vs. Salisbury

Should I go to Bowie State University or Salisbury University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Bowie State University or Salisbury is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Bowie State University vs. Salisbury University comparison
Bowie State University Salisbury University College 3 College 4
Bowie State University Salisbury University
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Overview

Bowie State University Salisbury
Location Bowie, MD Salisbury, MD
Setting Large Suburban Small Suburban
Enrollment 6,408 7,030
Type Public 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #943 #356
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website bowiestate.edu salisbury.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Bowie State University Salisbury
Tuition (In State) $5,993 $7,706
Tuition (Out of State) $16,883 $18,400
Room & Board $13,272 $13,416
Avg Net Price $16,117 $17,931
Avg Grant Aid $8,730 $8,192
% Receiving Grant Aid 62% 89%

Admission

Bowie State University Salisbury
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 6,245 8,090
Admitted 5,217 7,170
Acceptance Rate 83.5% 88.6%
Enrolled % 19% 19.2%
Avg High School GPA 3.12 3.73
Typical High School Grades B A-
Admissions Standards Extremely Easy Challenging
Applicant Competition
ACT Range 26/28
SAT Range 796/1083 1180/1310
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline May 15, 2026 Jan 15, 2026

Academics

Bowie State University Salisbury
Student to Faculty Ratio 16:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (23%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Social Sciences (13%)
  • Communications Technology (10%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Business (17%)
  • Education (12%)
  • Health Professions (8%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • Psychology (7%)

Outcomes

Bowie State University Salisbury
Graduation Rate 41% 67%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $50,500 $52,000
Making Student Loan Payments 29% 68%
Median Student Loan Debt $24,391 $20,153
Median Loan Payment $252 $208

Diversity

Bowie State University Salisbury
% Men 5% 2%
% Women 12% 8%
Racial Diversity Very Low Low
HBCU Yes No
% White 3% 71%
% Black 86% 13%
% Hispanic 3% 4%
% Native American 0% 1%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 4% 4%
% International 1% 1%
% Unknown Race 2% 3%

Students

Bowie State University Salisbury
% In-State 78% 81%
% Out-of-State 19% 18%

Campus

Bowie State University Salisbury
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Salisbury University is larger than than Bowie State University based on total student enrollment (7,030 students vs. 6,408 students)

Bowie State University vs. Salisbury Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bowie State University or Salisbury?

  • Salisbury University is 28.6% more expensive to attend than Bowie State University for in-state tuition ($7,706.00 vs. $5,993.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 9% higher at Salisbury than Bowie State University ($18,400.00 vs. $16,883.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Bowie State University than Salisbury ($16,117 vs. $17,931)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bowie State University are 1.1% lower than costs at Salisbury University ($13,272 vs. $13,416)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Salisbury University than Bowie State University (89% vs. 62%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Bowie State University students is 6.6% larger than aid received Salisbury University ($8,730 vs. $8,192)

Bowie State University vs. Salisbury Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bowie State University or Salisbury? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Salisbury or Bowie State University .

  • Accepted freshman Salisbury students have a 0.61 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at Bowie State University (3.12)
  • Salisbury has a higher acceptance rate (88.6%) than Bowie State University (83.5%)

Bowie State University vs. Salisbury Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Bowie State University or Salisbury? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Salisbury and Bowie State University.

  • The graduation rate at Salisbury is higher than Bowie State University (67% vs. 41%)
  • Graduates from Salisbury University earn on average $1,500 more per year than Bowie State University graduates after ten years. ($52,000 vs. $50,500)
  • Salisbury University students graduate with a $4,238 lower median federal student loan debt than Bowie State University graduates. ($20,153 vs. $24,391)
  • Salisbury graduates are paying $44 less per month on federal student loans than Bowie State University graduates. ($208 vs. $252)
  • More Salisbury graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bowie State University students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 29%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/