Salisbury University — ROI, Cost & Payback
Salisbury University charges a net price of $17,743/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $70,972. Graduates earn a median $61,515 ten years after entry, $13,155/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 5.4 years — a 20-year net return of $192,128, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
Salisbury University's 5.4-year payback ranks #469 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 63% of them, and #12 of 52 in Maryland.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Net price (after aid) | $17,743/yr | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Total net cost (4 yrs) | $70,972 | our math |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry | $61,515 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Earnings premium over HS baseline | $13,155/yr | our math |
| Median debt (completers) | $21,000 | Scorecard, 2026 |
| Payback | 5.4 yrs | our math |
| 20-year net return | $192,128 | our math |
College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.
The arithmetic, on Salisbury University's own numbers. Net price $17,743 × 4 years = $70,972 total. Median earnings $61,515 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $13,155 a year of premium. $70,972 ÷ $13,155 = 5.4 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $192,128. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.
How much debt do Salisbury University students graduate with?
A median $21,000 in federal loans among completers, or 34% of the $61,515 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.
What share of Salisbury University students graduate?
68% finish their degree — 32% leave carrying the cost without the credential. Spread the $70,972 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $104,371 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.
Is Salisbury University expensive compared with other Maryland colleges?
Its $17,743 net price runs $165 above the $17,578 median across the 52 Maryland colleges we profile, or $660 more across the full degree.