Howard vs. Salisbury

Comparable Facts

Compare Howard University in Washington, DC with Salisbury University in Salisbury, MD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Howard University is larger than Salisbury based on total student enrollment (14,890 students vs. 7,025 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Howard University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Salisbury University is in Salisbury, MD (Small Suburban setting).
• Howard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Salisbury University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Howard University 13:1; Salisbury University 14:1.

Howard vs. Salisbury Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Howard or Salisbury? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Salisbury University than Howard ($18,760 vs. $33,368).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Salisbury University are 19.8% lower than at Howard University ($13,900 vs. $17,322).
• Howard University is 223.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Salisbury (about $24,726 more per year; $35,810.00 vs. $11,084.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 61.5% higher at Howard than at Salisbury University (about $13,636 more per year; $35,810.00 vs. $22,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Howard University than at Salisbury University (99% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Howard University students is 133% larger than aid received by Salisbury University students ($21,262 vs. $9,124).

Howard vs. Salisbury Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Howard or Salisbury? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Salisbury and Howard.

• The typical SAT score (midpoint estimate) at Salisbury University (1250) is 40 points higher than at Howard (1210).
• Incoming Howard students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (midpoint estimate) (25 vs. 24 at Salisbury).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Howard University 1090/1320; Salisbury University 1180/1320.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scores: Howard University 22/28; Salisbury University 20/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Howard - Test optional; Salisbury - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Howard Feb 15, 2027; Salisbury Jan 15, 2027.
• Enrolled freshman Salisbury students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at Howard (3.66).
• Salisbury has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than Howard (41.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.4% at Howard vs. 18.4% at Salisbury.

Howard vs. Salisbury Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Howard and Salisbury? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Salisbury University's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than Howard University's (63%).
• Graduates from Salisbury University earn a median of about $200 more per year than Howard graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,000 vs. $51,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Salisbury University graduates have a $6,847 lower median loan debt than Howard graduates ($20,153 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Salisbury graduates have an estimated $71 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Howard graduates ($208 vs. $279).
• More Salisbury graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Howard students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 33%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.