At $16,456/yr net price, Salisbury University graduates earn $61,515/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $27,515/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $16,456 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $65,824 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $61,515/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$27,515/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 2.4 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 67.4% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $21,000 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $7,351/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $12,779/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $14,904/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $20,344/yr |
| $110,001+ | $23,689/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Bachelor | $74,576 | $24,313 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Bachelor | $63,267 | $21,500 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. | Bachelor | $58,221 | $22,000 |
| Information Science/Studies. | Bachelor | $57,564 | $23,000 |
| Accounting and Related Services. | Bachelor | $56,931 | $23,036 |
| Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions. | Bachelor | $54,296 | $30,208 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $53,537 | $20,250 |
| Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions. | Bachelor | $53,358 | |
| Economics. | Bachelor | $48,823 | |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Bachelor | $48,112 | $20,000 |
The Risk Factor
67.4% of students at Salisbury University graduate within 6 years. A significant share of students finish, but roughly 33% do not complete their degree.
Analysis
Salisbury University gives you a solid financial return for a public school. With a net price around $16,000 a year and a median debt of $21,000, you can pay off what you borrow on a median salary that clears $61,000 a decade out. A 67% graduation rate and 80% retention mean most people who start here finish, which is the single biggest factor in whether the cost pays off.
Your major decides everything here. Computer and Information Sciences graduates earn about $74,000, the clear winner, and they can absorb the higher $24,000 debt load that comes with it. Nursing and finance both land in the high $50,000s to low $60,000s with debt right around the median, so the math works cleanly. Accounting and Information Science sit lower, near $57,000, but still comfortably above the debt they carry. There are no bachelor-level program figures here that fall below what you'd borrow, which is a good sign across the board.
The main risk is choosing a major outside these tech, health, and business fields. The listed programs skew toward high-earning career tracks, so a degree in a lower-paying field would leave you paying the same net price for a weaker payoff. The salary data covers strong outcomes, not the full range.
If your family earns under $30,000, you pay about $7,300 a year, and that low cost combined with nursing or computing outcomes makes this one of the better deals you'll find. In the $48,000 to $75,000 band you pay roughly $15,000. Above $110,000 the price climbs to nearly $24,000, so at that tier you should weigh Salisbury against cheaper in-state options unless you're targeting one of the top-earning majors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Salisbury University worth the cost for the average student?
With a net price of $16,456 and median earnings of $61,515 ten years after graduation, Salisbury University offers decent value for a public institution. However, the 67% graduation rate means one in three students won't finish their degree, which significantly impacts ROI.
What are the best paying majors at Salisbury University?
Computer science graduates earn the highest salaries at $74,576, followed by nursing at $63,267. Business majors in finance and accounting see more modest returns around $56,000-$58,000, which is reasonable given the school's lower tuition costs.
How much debt do Salisbury University graduates typically have?
The median debt load is $21,000, which is manageable compared to the national average. Most graduates can expect monthly payments around $200-250, making this debt burden reasonable for the earning potential.
Does Salisbury University provide good value compared to other Maryland schools?
Salisbury offers solid value for students who complete their degree, especially in technical fields. The relatively low cost helps offset the modest earning potential, though students should be aware of the below-average graduation rate.