Salisbury vs. St. Mary's

Comparable Facts

Compare Salisbury University in Salisbury, MD with St. Mary's College of Maryland in St. Mary's City, MD on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Salisbury University is larger than St. Mary's based on total student enrollment (7,025 students vs. 1,630 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Salisbury University is located in Salisbury, MD (Small Suburban setting); St. Mary's College of Maryland is in St. Mary's City, MD (Distant Rural setting).
• Salisbury University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. St. Mary's College of Maryland is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Salisbury University 14:1; St. Mary's College of Maryland 10:1.

Salisbury vs. St. Mary's Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Salisbury or St. Mary's? 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 St. Mary's ($18,760 vs. $21,071).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Salisbury University are 13.6% lower than at St. Mary's College of Maryland ($13,900 vs. $16,079).
• St. Mary's College of Maryland is 38% more expensive for in-state tuition than Salisbury (about $4,214 more per year; $15,298.00 vs. $11,084.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 41.5% higher at St. Mary's than at Salisbury University (about $9,200 more per year; $31,374.00 vs. $22,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at St. Mary's College of Maryland than at Salisbury University (98% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by St. Mary's College of Maryland students is 24.9% larger than aid received by Salisbury University students ($11,398 vs. $9,124).

Salisbury vs. St. Mary's Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Salisbury or St. Mary's? 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 St. Mary's and Salisbury.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Salisbury University (1250) is 10 points higher than at St. Mary's (1240).
• Incoming St. Mary's students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (28 vs. 24 at Salisbury).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Salisbury University 1180/1320; St. Mary's College of Maryland 1143/1340.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Salisbury University 20/29; St. Mary's College of Maryland 26/31.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Salisbury - Test optional; St. Mary's - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Salisbury Jan 15, 2027; St. Mary's Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Salisbury students have a 0.28 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at St. Mary's (3.45).
• Salisbury has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than St. Mary's (68.6%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.4% at Salisbury vs. 17.3% at St. Mary's.

Salisbury vs. St. Mary's Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Salisbury and St. Mary's? 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).

• St. Mary's College of Maryland's six-year graduation rate (79%) is higher than Salisbury University's (67%).
• Graduates from Salisbury University earn a median of about $500 more per year than St. Mary's graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,000 vs. $51,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Salisbury University graduates have a $217 lower median loan debt than St. Mary's graduates ($20,153 vs. $20,370).
• Among borrowers, Salisbury graduates have an estimated $2 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than St. Mary's graduates ($208 vs. $210).
• More St. Mary's graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salisbury students, three years after graduation. (82% 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.