Salisbury vs. Penn State

Deciding between Salisbury University and Penn State Main Campus? 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
Penn State Main Campus

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Salisbury Salisbury, MD
  • Penn State University Park, PA
  • Setting
  • Salisbury Small Suburban
  • Penn State Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Salisbury 7,025
  • Penn State 50,737
  • Type
  • Salisbury Public 4 Year
  • Penn State Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Salisbury #352
  • Penn State #185
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Salisbury -
  • Penn State -
  • Status
  • Salisbury Non-profit
  • Penn State Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Salisbury
  • Penn State

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Salisbury $11,084
  • Penn State $20,644
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Salisbury $22,174
  • Penn State $41,790
  • Room & Board
  • Salisbury $13,900
  • Penn State $14,474
  • Average Net Price
  • Salisbury $18,760
  • Penn State $27,889
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Salisbury $9,124
  • Penn State $11,336
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Salisbury 88%
  • Penn State 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Salisbury 8,845
  • Penn State 88,478
  • Admitted
  • Salisbury 7,737
  • Penn State 53,579
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Salisbury 87.5%
  • Penn State 60.6%
  • Enrolled
  • Salisbury 18.4%
  • Penn State 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Salisbury 1250
  • Penn State 1330
  • Typical ACT score
  • Salisbury 24
  • Penn State 29
  • Average High School GPA
  • Salisbury 3.73
  • Penn State -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Salisbury A-
  • Penn State -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Salisbury Challenging
  • Penn State Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Salisbury
  • Penn State Low
  • ACT Range
  • Salisbury 20/29
  • Penn State 27/32
  • SAT Range
  • Salisbury 1180/1320
  • Penn State 1240/1420
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Salisbury Test optional
  • Penn State Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Salisbury Jan 15, 2027
  • Penn State

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Salisbury 14:1
  • Penn State 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Salisbury
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • Penn State
    • Business (16%)
    • Engineering (12%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Computer and Information Sciences (7%)
    • Social Sciences (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Salisbury 67%
  • Penn State 87%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Salisbury $52,000
  • Penn State $55,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Salisbury 68%
  • Penn State 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Salisbury $20,153
  • Penn State $26,818
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Salisbury $208
  • Penn State $277

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Salisbury 42%
  • Penn State 52%
  • % Women
  • Salisbury 58%
  • Penn State 48%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Salisbury Medium
  • Penn State Medium
  • HBCU
  • Salisbury No
  • Penn State No
  • % White
  • Salisbury 71%
  • Penn State 69%
  • % Asian
  • Salisbury 3%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Black
  • Salisbury 13%
  • Penn State 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Salisbury 4%
  • Penn State 6%
  • % Native American
  • Salisbury 1%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Salisbury 0%
  • Penn State 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Salisbury 4%
  • Penn State 3%
  • % International
  • Salisbury 1%
  • Penn State 11%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Salisbury 3%
  • Penn State 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Salisbury 82%
  • Penn State 53%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Salisbury 17%
  • Penn State 40%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Salisbury University in Salisbury, MD with Penn State Main Campus in University Park, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Penn State Main Campus is larger than Salisbury based on total student enrollment (50,737 students vs. 7,025 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Salisbury University is located in Salisbury, MD (Small Suburban setting); Penn State Main Campus is in University Park, PA (Small City setting).
  • Salisbury University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Main Campus is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Salisbury University 14:1; Penn State Main Campus 16:1.

Salisbury vs. Penn State Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Salisbury or Penn State? 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 Penn State ($18,760 vs. $27,889).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Salisbury University are 4% lower than at Penn State Main Campus ($13,900 vs. $14,474).
  • Penn State Main Campus is 86.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Salisbury (about $9,560 more per year; $20,644.00 vs. $11,084.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 88.5% higher at Penn State than at Salisbury University (about $19,616 more per year; $41,790.00 vs. $22,174.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Salisbury University than at Penn State Main Campus (88% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Penn State Main Campus students is 24.2% larger than aid received by Salisbury University students ($11,336 vs. $9,124).

Salisbury vs. Penn State Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Salisbury or Penn State? 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 Penn State and Salisbury.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Penn State Main Campus (1330) is 80 points higher than at Salisbury (1250).
  • Incoming Penn State students have a 5 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (29 vs. 24 at Salisbury).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Salisbury University 1180/1320; Penn State Main Campus 1240/1420.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Salisbury University 20/29; Penn State Main Campus 27/32.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Salisbury - Test optional; Penn State - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Salisbury Jan 15, 2027.
  • Salisbury has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than Penn State (60.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.4% at Salisbury vs. 17.1% at Penn State.

Salisbury vs. Penn State Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Salisbury and Penn State? 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).

  • Penn State Main Campus's six-year graduation rate (87%) is higher than Salisbury University's (67%).
  • Graduates from Penn State Main Campus earn a median of about $3,300 more per year than Salisbury graduates about ten years after starting college ($55,300 vs. $52,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Salisbury University graduates have a $6,665 lower median loan debt than Penn State graduates ($20,153 vs. $26,818).
  • Among borrowers, Salisbury graduates have an estimated $69 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State graduates ($208 vs. $277).
  • More Penn State 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 https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.