Salisbury vs. Penn State Beaver

Comparable Facts

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

Salisbury University is larger than Penn State Beaver based on total student enrollment (7,025 students vs. 482 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Salisbury University is located in Salisbury, MD (Small Suburban setting); Penn State Beaver is in Monaca, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Salisbury University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Penn State Beaver is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Salisbury University 14:1; Penn State Beaver 12:1.

Salisbury vs. Penn State Beaver Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Salisbury or Penn State Beaver? 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 Penn State Beaver than Salisbury ($18,581 vs. $18,760).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Salisbury University are 4% lower than at Penn State Beaver ($13,900 vs. $14,474).
• Penn State Beaver is 30% more expensive for in-state tuition than Salisbury (about $3,324 more per year; $14,408.00 vs. $11,084.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 8.8% higher at Penn State Beaver than at Salisbury University (about $1,960 more per year; $24,134.00 vs. $22,174.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Salisbury University as at Penn State Beaver (88% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Salisbury University students is 0.9% larger than aid received by Penn State Beaver students ($9,124 vs. $9,045).

Salisbury vs. Penn State Beaver Admissions comparison

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

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Salisbury University (1250) is 60 points higher than at Penn State Beaver (1190).
• Incoming Penn State Beaver students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (25 vs. 24 at Salisbury).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Salisbury University 1180/1320; Penn State Beaver 1080/1290.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Salisbury University 20/29; Penn State Beaver 24/27.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Salisbury - Test optional; Penn State Beaver - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Salisbury Jan 15, 2027.
• Penn State Beaver has a higher acceptance rate (95.7%) than Salisbury (87.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.4% at Salisbury vs. 9.5% at Penn State Beaver.

Salisbury vs. Penn State Beaver Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Salisbury and Penn State Beaver? 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 Penn State Beaver's (47%).
• Graduates from Penn State Beaver 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 Beaver graduates ($20,153 vs. $26,818).
• Among borrowers, Salisbury graduates have an estimated $69 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Penn State Beaver graduates ($208 vs. $277).
• More Penn State Beaver 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.