Salisbury vs. Old Dominion

Deciding between Salisbury University and Old Dominion University? 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
Old Dominion University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Salisbury Salisbury, MD
  • Old Dominion Norfolk, VA
  • Setting
  • Salisbury Small Suburban
  • Old Dominion Midsize City
  • Total enrollment
  • Salisbury 7,025
  • Old Dominion 23,743
  • Type
  • Salisbury Public 4 Year
  • Old Dominion Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Salisbury #352
  • Old Dominion #477
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Salisbury -
  • Old Dominion -
  • Status
  • Salisbury Non-profit
  • Old Dominion Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Salisbury
  • Old Dominion
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Salisbury $11,084
  • Old Dominion $12,750
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Salisbury $22,174
  • Old Dominion $33,780
  • Room & Board
  • Salisbury $13,900
  • Old Dominion $14,878
  • Average Net Price
  • Salisbury $18,760
  • Old Dominion $16,419
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Salisbury $9,124
  • Old Dominion $11,740
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Salisbury 88%
  • Old Dominion 94%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Salisbury 8,845
  • Old Dominion 15,100
  • Admitted
  • Salisbury 7,737
  • Old Dominion 13,645
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Salisbury 87.5%
  • Old Dominion 90.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Salisbury 18.4%
  • Old Dominion 19.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Salisbury 1250
  • Old Dominion 1190
  • Typical ACT score
  • Salisbury 24
  • Old Dominion 26
  • Average High School GPA
  • Salisbury 3.73
  • Old Dominion 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Salisbury A-
  • Old Dominion B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Salisbury Challenging
  • Old Dominion Challenging
  • Applicant Competition
  • Salisbury
  • Old Dominion
  • ACT Range
  • Salisbury 20/29
  • Old Dominion 24/29
  • SAT Range
  • Salisbury 1180/1320
  • Old Dominion 1100/1280
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Salisbury Test optional
  • Old Dominion Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Salisbury Jan 15, 2027
  • Old Dominion Feb 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Salisbury 14:1
  • Old Dominion 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Salisbury
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Old Dominion
    • Business (19%)
    • Health Professions (15%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • English and Literature (8%)
    • General Studies (7%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Salisbury 67%
  • Old Dominion 50%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Salisbury $52,000
  • Old Dominion $47,600
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Salisbury 68%
  • Old Dominion 53%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Salisbury $20,153
  • Old Dominion $23,500
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Salisbury $208
  • Old Dominion $242
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Salisbury 42%
  • Old Dominion 44%
  • % Women
  • Salisbury 58%
  • Old Dominion 56%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Salisbury Medium
  • Old Dominion High
  • HBCU
  • Salisbury No
  • Old Dominion No
  • % White
  • Salisbury 71%
  • Old Dominion 47%
  • % Asian
  • Salisbury 3%
  • Old Dominion 4%
  • % Black
  • Salisbury 13%
  • Old Dominion 27%
  • % Hispanic
  • Salisbury 4%
  • Old Dominion 7%
  • % Native American
  • Salisbury 1%
  • Old Dominion 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Salisbury 0%
  • Old Dominion 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Salisbury 4%
  • Old Dominion 6%
  • % International
  • Salisbury 1%
  • Old Dominion 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Salisbury 3%
  • Old Dominion 6%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Salisbury 82%
  • Old Dominion 89%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Salisbury 17%
  • Old Dominion 7%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Salisbury Yes
  • Old Dominion Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Salisbury No
  • Old Dominion No
  • Meal Plan
  • Salisbury Yes
  • Old Dominion Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Salisbury No
  • Old Dominion Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Salisbury No
  • Old Dominion No

Comparable Facts

Compare Salisbury University in Salisbury, MD with Old Dominion University in Norfolk, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Old Dominion University is larger than Salisbury based on total student enrollment (23,743 students vs. 7,025 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Salisbury University is located in Salisbury, MD (Small Suburban setting); Old Dominion University is in Norfolk, VA (Midsize City setting).
  • Salisbury University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Old Dominion University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Salisbury University 14:1; Old Dominion University 13:1.

Salisbury vs. Old Dominion Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Salisbury or Old Dominion? 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 Old Dominion University than Salisbury ($16,419 vs. $18,760).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Salisbury University are 6.6% lower than at Old Dominion University ($13,900 vs. $14,878).
  • Old Dominion University is 15% more expensive for in-state tuition than Salisbury (about $1,666 more per year; $12,750.00 vs. $11,084.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 52.3% higher at Old Dominion than at Salisbury University (about $11,606 more per year; $33,780.00 vs. $22,174.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Old Dominion University than at Salisbury University (94% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Old Dominion University students is 28.7% larger than aid received by Salisbury University students ($11,740 vs. $9,124).

Salisbury vs. Old Dominion Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Salisbury or Old Dominion? 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 Old Dominion and Salisbury.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Salisbury University (1250) is 60 points higher than at Old Dominion (1190).
  • Incoming Old Dominion students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (26 vs. 24 at Salisbury).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Salisbury University 1180/1320; Old Dominion University 1100/1280.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Salisbury University 20/29; Old Dominion University 24/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Salisbury - Test optional; Old Dominion - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Salisbury Jan 15, 2027; Old Dominion Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Salisbury students have a 0.43 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at Old Dominion (3.3).
  • Old Dominion has a higher acceptance rate (90.4%) than Salisbury (87.5%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.4% at Salisbury vs. 19.9% at Old Dominion.

Salisbury vs. Old Dominion Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Salisbury and Old Dominion? 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).

  • Salisbury University's six-year graduation rate (67%) is higher than Old Dominion University's (50%).
  • Graduates from Salisbury University earn a median of about $4,400 more per year than Old Dominion graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,000 vs. $47,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Salisbury University graduates have a $3,347 lower median loan debt than Old Dominion graduates ($20,153 vs. $23,500).
  • Among borrowers, Salisbury graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Old Dominion graduates ($208 vs. $242).
  • More Salisbury graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Old Dominion students, three years after graduation. (68% vs. 53%)

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.