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Salisbury University
Salisbury, MD 6,056 Undergrads 71.1% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$26,134
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$16,456
After Aid
Median Earnings
$61,515
10yr Post-Entry
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$16,456
Peer Midpoint: $19,729.5
Earnings (10yr)$61,515
Peer Midpoint: $53,747
Graduation Rate71.1%
Peer Midpoint: 58.5%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients24.4%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time95.2%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS79.9%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
88.6%
SAT Avg
1,250
SAT Reading
25th: 600-75th: 670
SAT Math
25th: 580-75th: 640
ACT Composite
25th: 26-75th: 28
ROI Sensitivity Analysis
This analysis tests three cost scenarios (Scholarship, Average Net Price, Full Sticker Price) to show how college costs impact your long-term return compared to the average student and a high school graduate.
Lifetime Value Added (NPV)
Institution Lifetime NPV
Vs Median Peer
Vs HS Grad
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
+$529k
+$132k
+$44k
Median Cost$16k/yr
+$469k
+$73k
-$15k
Full Cost$26k/yr
+$435k
+$38k
-$50k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
39
∞
Median Cost$16k/yr
Never
-25%
Full Cost$26k/yr
Never
-53%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 10-year median earnings (assuming 2% annual growth from graduation).
- Comparisons: "Vs Median Peer" compares to the median student nationwide in a similar level program. "Vs HS Grad" compares to a median high school graduate.
- Break-Even: The age at which the college investment net income exceeds the median high school graduate's lifetime earnings.
- NPV: Net Present Value of all future earnings minus costs and taxes, discounted at 7.8%.
Social Impact ROINew
Measures the societal return on a donor's investment. Calculated as the incremental pre-tax lifetime earnings vs. HS grad, divided by the tax-adjusted donation cost.
Donor Return2%
Gov. Pell Grant ROINew
Measures the government's return on Pell Grants via increased tax revenue. Calculated as the portion of incremental lifetime taxes (discounted at 5.4%) attributed to the Pell Grant investment.
Taxpayer Return-51%
Important Note: Your ROI with any major will depend on the cost you pay to attend the program, and your starting salary. Both vary significantly across institutions. We encourage you to explore the ROI of a specific program variant by selecting the Program title of the credential level you are interested in. You will then have a more detailed return analysis for programs at specific institutions. We also encourage you to use the ROI calculator with your specific estimates of cost and salary.
Program ROI Analysis
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$23,036
Earnings (5yr)
$83,442
Lifetime Value Added
+$160k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$30,208
Earnings (5yr)
$76,348
Lifetime Value Added
+$107k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,410
Earnings (5yr)
$58,765
Lifetime Value Added
-$27k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$74,902
Lifetime Value Added
+$96k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (2yr)
$41,565
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$53,358
Lifetime Value Added
-$44k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (5yr)
$54,349
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$24,313
Earnings (5yr)
$113,833
Lifetime Value Added
+$388k
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$70,822
Lifetime Value Added
+$66k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$21,497
Earnings (5yr)
$40,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$181k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (5yr)
$82,449
Lifetime Value Added
+$153k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$47,681
Lifetime Value Added
-$117k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (5yr)
$54,341
Lifetime Value Added
-$63k
Health and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$62,669
Lifetime Value Added
+$4k
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$49,213
Lifetime Value Added
-$105k
Information Science/Studies
BachCIP: 1104
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (5yr)
$85,326
Lifetime Value Added
+$175k
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$50,005
Lifetime Value Added
-$98k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$20,331
Earnings (5yr)
$67,383
Lifetime Value Added
+$40k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (5yr)
$68,795
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (5yr)
$51,618
Lifetime Value Added
-$85k
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
BachCIP: 3005
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (5yr)
$62,494
Lifetime Value Added
+$2k
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$20,325
Earnings (5yr)
$86,468
Lifetime Value Added
+$183k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$57,204
Lifetime Value Added
-$40k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$52,655
Lifetime Value Added
-$76k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (5yr)
$79,207
Lifetime Value Added
+$129k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$39,648
Lifetime Value Added
-$164k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (5yr)
$56,449
Lifetime Value Added
-$46k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (2yr)
$33,993
Lifetime Value Added
-$215k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (5yr)
$55,101
Lifetime Value Added
-$57k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$22,275
Earnings (5yr)
$55,504
Lifetime Value Added
-$53k
Master's Degrees
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$20,250
Earnings (5yr)
$92,543
Lifetime Value Added
+$345k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$60,129
Lifetime Value Added
+$64k
English Language and Literature, General
MastCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (2yr)
$47,260
Lifetime Value Added
-$29k
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
MastCIP: 5199
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$58,716
Lifetime Value Added
+$51k
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
MastCIP: 3005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$50,604
Lifetime Value Added
-$25k
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$29,730
Earnings (5yr)
$63,877
Lifetime Value Added
+$98k
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate, accounting for this institution's average cost and taxes. Computed over a career to retirement age.
For graduate programs (Master's, Doctoral, etc.), the calculation assumes a starting age of 22 (after undergraduate completion) and does not include the sunk costs of prior degrees. It represents the value added of the graduate degree decision moving forward. These Lifetime Value Added results should not be compared with those Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors starting at age 18.