Salisbury vs. F&M

Deciding between Salisbury University and Franklin and Marshall College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Salisbury University
Franklin and Marshall College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Salisbury Salisbury, MD
  • F&M Lancaster, PA
  • Setting
  • Salisbury Small Suburban
  • F&M Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Salisbury 7,025
  • F&M 1,808
  • Type
  • Salisbury Public 4 Year
  • F&M Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Salisbury #352
  • F&M #60
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Salisbury -
  • F&M -
  • Status
  • Salisbury Non-profit
  • F&M Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Salisbury
  • F&M

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Salisbury $11,084
  • F&M $70,794
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Salisbury $22,174
  • F&M $70,794
  • Room & Board
  • Salisbury $13,900
  • F&M $16,188
  • Average Net Price
  • Salisbury $18,760
  • F&M $43,987
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Salisbury $9,124
  • F&M $41,901
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Salisbury 88%
  • F&M 80%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Salisbury 8,845
  • F&M 9,881
  • Admitted
  • Salisbury 7,737
  • F&M 2,785
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Salisbury 87.5%
  • F&M 28.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Salisbury 18.4%
  • F&M 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Salisbury 1250
  • F&M 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • Salisbury 24
  • F&M 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Salisbury 3.73
  • F&M -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Salisbury A-
  • F&M -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Salisbury Challenging
  • F&M Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Salisbury
  • F&M High
  • ACT Range
  • Salisbury 20/29
  • F&M 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Salisbury 1180/1320
  • F&M 1310/1463
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Salisbury Test optional
  • F&M Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Salisbury Jan 15, 2027
  • F&M Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Salisbury 14:1
  • F&M 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Salisbury
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • F&M
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • General Studies (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Salisbury 67%
  • F&M 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Salisbury $52,000
  • F&M $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Salisbury 68%
  • F&M 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Salisbury $20,153
  • F&M $22,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Salisbury $208
  • F&M $227

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Salisbury 42%
  • F&M 49%
  • % Women
  • Salisbury 58%
  • F&M 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Salisbury Medium
  • F&M High
  • HBCU
  • Salisbury No
  • F&M No
  • % White
  • Salisbury 71%
  • F&M 59%
  • % Asian
  • Salisbury 3%
  • F&M 5%
  • % Black
  • Salisbury 13%
  • F&M 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Salisbury 4%
  • F&M 8%
  • % Native American
  • Salisbury 1%
  • F&M 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Salisbury 0%
  • F&M 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Salisbury 4%
  • F&M 2%
  • % International
  • Salisbury 1%
  • F&M 14%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Salisbury 3%
  • F&M 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Salisbury 82%
  • F&M 29%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Salisbury 17%
  • F&M 55%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Salisbury Yes
  • F&M Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Salisbury No
  • F&M No
  • Meal Plan
  • Salisbury Yes
  • F&M Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Salisbury No
  • F&M No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Salisbury No
  • F&M No

Comparable Facts

Compare Salisbury University in Salisbury, MD with Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Salisbury University is larger than F&M based on total student enrollment (7,025 students vs. 1,808 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Salisbury University is located in Salisbury, MD (Small Suburban setting); Franklin and Marshall College is in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting).
  • Salisbury University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Franklin and Marshall College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Salisbury University 14:1; Franklin and Marshall College 9:1.

Salisbury vs. F&M Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Salisbury or F&M? 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 F&M ($18,760 vs. $43,987).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Salisbury University are 14.1% lower than at Franklin and Marshall College ($13,900 vs. $16,188).
  • Franklin and Marshall College is 538.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Salisbury (about $59,710 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $11,084.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 219.3% higher at F&M than at Salisbury University (about $48,620 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $22,174.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Salisbury University than at Franklin and Marshall College (88% vs. 80%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Franklin and Marshall College students is 359.2% larger than aid received by Salisbury University students ($41,901 vs. $9,124).

Salisbury vs. F&M Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Salisbury or F&M? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between F&M and Salisbury.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Franklin and Marshall College (1390) is 140 points higher than at Salisbury (1250).
  • Incoming F&M students have a 7 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (31 vs. 24 at Salisbury).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Salisbury University 1180/1320; Franklin and Marshall College 1310/1463.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Salisbury University 20/29; Franklin and Marshall College 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Salisbury - Test optional; F&M - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Salisbury Jan 15, 2027; F&M Jan 15, 2027.
  • Salisbury has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than F&M (28.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.4% at Salisbury vs. 17.1% at F&M.

Salisbury vs. F&M Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Salisbury and F&M? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Franklin and Marshall College's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Salisbury University's (67%).
  • Graduates from Franklin and Marshall College earn a median of about $9,900 more per year than Salisbury graduates about ten years after starting college ($61,900 vs. $52,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Salisbury University graduates have a $1,847 lower median loan debt than F&M graduates ($20,153 vs. $22,000).
  • Among borrowers, Salisbury graduates have an estimated $19 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than F&M graduates ($208 vs. $227).
  • More F&M graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salisbury students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 68%)

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.