Salisbury vs. Sweet Briar College

Comparable Facts

Compare Salisbury University in Salisbury, MD with Sweet Briar College in Sweet Briar, VA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Salisbury University is larger than Sweet Briar College based on total student enrollment (7,025 students vs. 444 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Salisbury University is located in Salisbury, MD (Small Suburban setting); Sweet Briar College is in Sweet Briar, VA (Small Suburban setting).
• Salisbury University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Sweet Briar College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Salisbury University 14:1; Sweet Briar College 9:1.

Salisbury vs. Sweet Briar College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Salisbury or Sweet Briar College? 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 Sweet Briar College ($18,760 vs. $21,322).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Salisbury University are 8.7% lower than at Sweet Briar College ($13,900 vs. $15,230).
• Sweet Briar College is 136% more expensive for in-state tuition than Salisbury (about $15,076 more per year; $26,160.00 vs. $11,084.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 18% higher at Sweet Briar College than at Salisbury University (about $3,986 more per year; $26,160.00 vs. $22,174.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Sweet Briar College than at Salisbury University (99% vs. 88%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sweet Briar College students is 145.4% larger than aid received by Salisbury University students ($22,387 vs. $9,124).

Salisbury vs. Sweet Briar College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Salisbury or Sweet Briar College? 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 Sweet Briar College and Salisbury.

• The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Salisbury University (1250) is 40 points higher than at Sweet Briar College (1210).
• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Salisbury University 1180/1320; Sweet Briar College 1100/1310.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Salisbury University 20/29.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Salisbury - Test optional; Sweet Briar College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Salisbury Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Salisbury students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at Sweet Briar College (3.54).
• Salisbury has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than Sweet Briar College (75.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.4% at Salisbury vs. 13.2% at Sweet Briar College.

Salisbury vs. Sweet Briar College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Salisbury and Sweet Briar College? 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).

• Sweet Briar College's six-year graduation rate (70%) is higher than Salisbury University's (67%).
• Graduates from Salisbury University earn a median of about $10,300 more per year than Sweet Briar College graduates about ten years after starting college ($52,000 vs. $41,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Salisbury University graduates have a $6,847 lower median loan debt than Sweet Briar College graduates ($20,153 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Salisbury graduates have an estimated $71 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Sweet Briar College graduates ($208 vs. $279).
• More Sweet Briar College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salisbury students, three years after graduation. (72% 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.