Salisbury vs. URI

Deciding between Salisbury University and University of Rhode Island? 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
University of Rhode Island

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Salisbury Salisbury, MD
  • URI Kingston, RI
  • Setting
  • Salisbury Small Suburban
  • URI Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Salisbury 7,025
  • URI 17,210
  • Type
  • Salisbury Public 4 Year
  • URI Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Salisbury #352
  • URI #425
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Salisbury -
  • URI -
  • Status
  • Salisbury Non-profit
  • URI Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Salisbury
  • URI

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Salisbury $11,084
  • URI $16,942
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Salisbury $22,174
  • URI $37,146
  • Room & Board
  • Salisbury $13,900
  • URI $15,607
  • Average Net Price
  • Salisbury $18,760
  • URI $24,118
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Salisbury $9,124
  • URI $12,578
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Salisbury 88%
  • URI 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Salisbury 8,845
  • URI 26,987
  • Admitted
  • Salisbury 7,737
  • URI 19,475
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Salisbury 87.5%
  • URI 72.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Salisbury 18.4%
  • URI 15.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Salisbury 1250
  • URI 1150
  • Typical ACT score
  • Salisbury 24
  • URI
  • Average High School GPA
  • Salisbury 3.73
  • URI 3.58
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Salisbury A-
  • URI A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Salisbury Challenging
  • URI Average
  • Applicant Competition
  • Salisbury
  • URI Low
  • ACT Range
  • Salisbury 20/29
  • URI
  • SAT Range
  • Salisbury 1180/1320
  • URI 1020/1280
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Salisbury Test optional
  • URI Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Salisbury Jan 15, 2027
  • URI Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Salisbury 14:1
  • URI 17:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Salisbury
    • Business (17%)
    • Education (12%)
    • Health Professions (8%)
    • Communication (8%)
    • Psychology (7%)
  • URI
    • Business (14%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Health Professions (10%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Engineering (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Salisbury 67%
  • URI 63%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Salisbury $52,000
  • URI $56,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Salisbury 68%
  • URI 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Salisbury $20,153
  • URI $23,438
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Salisbury $208
  • URI $242

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Salisbury 42%
  • URI 41%
  • % Women
  • Salisbury 58%
  • URI 59%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Salisbury Medium
  • URI Low
  • HBCU
  • Salisbury No
  • URI No
  • % White
  • Salisbury 71%
  • URI 71%
  • % Asian
  • Salisbury 3%
  • URI 3%
  • % Black
  • Salisbury 13%
  • URI 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Salisbury 4%
  • URI 9%
  • % Native American
  • Salisbury 1%
  • URI 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Salisbury 0%
  • URI 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Salisbury 4%
  • URI 3%
  • % International
  • Salisbury 1%
  • URI 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Salisbury 3%
  • URI 7%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Salisbury 82%
  • URI 42%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Salisbury 17%
  • URI 57%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Salisbury University in Salisbury, MD with University of Rhode Island in Kingston, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Rhode Island is larger than Salisbury based on total student enrollment (17,210 students vs. 7,025 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Salisbury University is located in Salisbury, MD (Small Suburban setting); University of Rhode Island is in Kingston, RI (Large Suburban setting).
  • Salisbury University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Rhode Island is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Salisbury University 14:1; University of Rhode Island 17:1.

Salisbury vs. URI Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Salisbury or URI? 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 URI ($18,760 vs. $24,118).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Salisbury University are 10.9% lower than at University of Rhode Island ($13,900 vs. $15,607).
  • University of Rhode Island is 52.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Salisbury (about $5,858 more per year; $16,942.00 vs. $11,084.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 67.5% higher at URI than at Salisbury University (about $14,972 more per year; $37,146.00 vs. $22,174.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Rhode Island than at Salisbury University (96% vs. 88%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by University of Rhode Island students is 37.9% larger than aid received by Salisbury University students ($12,578 vs. $9,124).

Salisbury vs. URI Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Salisbury University (1250) is 100 points higher than at URI (1150).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Salisbury University 1180/1320; University of Rhode Island 1020/1280.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Salisbury University 20/29.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Salisbury - Test optional; URI - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Salisbury Jan 15, 2027; URI Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Salisbury students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.73) than students at URI (3.58).
  • Salisbury has a higher acceptance rate (87.5%) than URI (72.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 18.4% at Salisbury vs. 15.4% at URI.

Salisbury vs. URI Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Salisbury and URI? 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 University of Rhode Island's (63%).
  • Graduates from University of Rhode Island earn a median of about $4,200 more per year than Salisbury graduates about ten years after starting college ($56,200 vs. $52,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Salisbury University graduates have a $3,285 lower median loan debt than URI graduates ($20,153 vs. $23,438).
  • Among borrowers, Salisbury graduates have an estimated $34 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than URI graduates ($208 vs. $242).
  • More URI 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.