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Salisbury University
Salisbury, MD 6,057 Undergrads 69.6% Grad Rate
Total Cost
$28,310
Sticker Price
Avg Net Price
$17,743
After Aid
Median Earnings
$61,985
4yr Post-Grad
Vs. Peer Institutions
Net Price$17,743
Peer Midpoint: $20,080.5
Earnings (4yr Post-Grad)$61,985
Peer Midpoint: $60,428
Graduation Rate69.6%
Peer Midpoint: 58.9%
Socio-Economic Diversity
Pell Grant Recipients25.8%
Enrollment Status
Full-Time96.0%
Economic Outcomes
Earn More than HS79.9%
Admissions Profile
Acceptance
87.5%
SAT Avg
1,252
SAT Reading
25th: 600-75th: 670
SAT Math
25th: 580-75th: 650
ACT Composite
25th: 20-75th: 29
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
+$552k
+$85k
+$67k
Median Cost$18k/yr
+$488k
+$21k
+$3k
Full Cost$28k/yr
+$450k
-$17k
-$35k
ROI Efficiency Metrics
Break-Even Age
Return on Inv. %
Zero Cost (Scholarship)$0
35
∞
Median Cost$18k/yr
61
5%
Full Cost$28k/yr
Never
-34%
Analysis Assumptions:
- Starting Salary: Estimated from the 4-year post-graduation 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 Return34%
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-44%
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
Certificates
Security Science and Technology
CertCIP: 4304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,296
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Bachelor's Degrees
Accounting and Related Services
BachCIP: 5203
Median Debt
$23,036
Earnings (4yr)
$89,535
Natl Median: $76,194
Lifetime Value Added
+$215k
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
BachCIP: 5109
Median Debt
$30,208
Earnings (4yr)
$109,739
Natl Median: $70,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$369k
Biology, General
BachCIP: 2601
Median Debt
$21,410
Earnings (4yr)
$62,407
Natl Median: $57,214
Lifetime Value Added
+$7k
Business Administration, Management and Operations
BachCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$66,519
Natl Median: $68,257
Lifetime Value Added
+$39k
Business/Managerial Economics
BachCIP: 5206
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$91,642
Natl Median: $77,981
Lifetime Value Added
+$231k
Chemistry
BachCIP: 4005
Median Debt
$27,000
Earnings (2yr)
$41,565
Natl Median: $65,120
Lifetime Value Added
-$152k
City/Urban, Community, and Regional Planning
BachCIP: 0403
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $66,874
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Science/Research and Allied Professions
BachCIP: 5110
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$74,731
Natl Median: $75,975
Lifetime Value Added
+$102k
Communication and Media Studies
BachCIP: 0901
Median Debt
$21,250
Earnings (4yr)
$56,048
Natl Median: $56,359
Lifetime Value Added
-$45k
Computer and Information Sciences, General
BachCIP: 1101
Median Debt
$24,313
Earnings (4yr)
$97,414
Natl Median: $92,374
Lifetime Value Added
+$275k
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
BachCIP: 5005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $39,775
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Economics
BachCIP: 4506
Median Debt
-
Earnings (5yr)
$70,822
Natl Median: $82,686
Lifetime Value Added
+$61k
English Language and Literature, General
BachCIP: 2301
Median Debt
$21,497
Earnings (4yr)
$53,906
Natl Median: $48,590
Lifetime Value Added
-$62k
Finance and Financial Management Services
BachCIP: 5208
Median Debt
$22,000
Earnings (4yr)
$80,478
Natl Median: $83,343
Lifetime Value Added
+$146k
Fine and Studio Arts
BachCIP: 5007
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$44,514
Natl Median: $41,367
Lifetime Value Added
-$141k
Geography and Cartography
BachCIP: 4507
Median Debt
$25,000
Earnings (4yr)
$58,548
Natl Median: $57,853
Lifetime Value Added
-$24k
Geological and Earth Sciences/Geosciences
BachCIP: 4006
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $60,190
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
History
BachCIP: 5401
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$54,262
Natl Median: $50,680
Lifetime Value Added
-$59k
Information Science/Studies
BachCIP: 1104
Median Debt
$23,000
Earnings (4yr)
$81,116
Natl Median: $85,294
Lifetime Value Added
+$151k
International Business
BachCIP: 5211
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $73,201
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
BachCIP: 2401
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$48,963
Natl Median: $53,072
Lifetime Value Added
-$103k
Marketing
BachCIP: 5214
Median Debt
$20,331
Earnings (4yr)
$70,597
Natl Median: $69,303
Lifetime Value Added
+$70k
Mathematics
BachCIP: 2701
Median Debt
$23,250
Earnings (4yr)
$71,910
Natl Median: $69,562
Lifetime Value Added
+$80k
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
BachCIP: 3099
Median Debt
$15,067
Earnings (4yr)
$54,187
Natl Median: $55,693
Lifetime Value Added
-$60k
Music
BachCIP: 5009
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,892
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Natural Resources Conservation and Research
BachCIP: 0301
Median Debt
$19,500
Earnings (4yr)
$49,706
Natl Median: $55,012
Lifetime Value Added
-$97k
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
BachCIP: 3005
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$60,003
Natl Median: $63,114
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Philosophy
BachCIP: 3801
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $54,455
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Physics
BachCIP: 4008
Median Debt
$20,325
Earnings (4yr)
$79,158
Natl Median: $76,786
Lifetime Value Added
+$136k
Political Science and Government
BachCIP: 4510
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$60,089
Natl Median: $63,293
Lifetime Value Added
-$12k
Psychology, General
BachCIP: 4201
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$50,319
Natl Median: $50,706
Lifetime Value Added
-$92k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
BachCIP: 5138
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$86,233
Natl Median: $88,910
Lifetime Value Added
+$190k
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics
BachCIP: 1609
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,193
Natl Median: $55,000
Lifetime Value Added
-$19k
Social Work
BachCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$22,250
Earnings (4yr)
$59,110
Natl Median: $51,790
Lifetime Value Added
-$20k
Sociology
BachCIP: 4511
Median Debt
$20,000
Earnings (4yr)
$49,411
Natl Median: $52,657
Lifetime Value Added
-$100k
Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness
BachCIP: 3105
Median Debt
$21,500
Earnings (4yr)
$59,892
Natl Median: $54,562
Lifetime Value Added
-$13k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
BachCIP: 1312
Median Debt
$20,500
Earnings (4yr)
$55,807
Natl Median: $47,382
Lifetime Value Added
-$47k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
BachCIP: 1313
Median Debt
$22,275
Earnings (4yr)
$59,311
Natl Median: $51,389
Lifetime Value Added
-$18k
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language
BachCIP: 1314
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $42,259
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Post-Baccalaureate Certificates
Teaching English or French as a Second or Foreign Language
PB-CertCIP: 1314
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $62,752
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Master's Degrees
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions
MastCIP: 5109
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $127,347
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Biology, General
MastCIP: 2601
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $69,830
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Business Administration, Management and Operations
MastCIP: 5202
Median Debt
$20,250
Earnings (4yr)
$92,925
Natl Median: $103,485
Lifetime Value Added
+$146k
Education, General
MastCIP: 1301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,039
Natl Median: $65,824
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
Educational Administration and Supervision
MastCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $71,685
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
English Language and Literature, General
MastCIP: 2301
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$58,759
Natl Median: $55,512
Lifetime Value Added
-$157k
Geography and Cartography
MastCIP: 4507
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $79,784
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Health Professions and Related Clinical Sciences, Other
MastCIP: 5199
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$66,037
Natl Median: $81,651
Lifetime Value Added
-$90k
History
MastCIP: 5401
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $55,360
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution
MastCIP: 3005
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
$59,831
Natl Median: $70,267
Lifetime Value Added
-$147k
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
MastCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $120,193
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Social Work
MastCIP: 4407
Median Debt
$29,730
Earnings (4yr)
$67,218
Natl Median: $65,123
Lifetime Value Added
-$80k
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods
MastCIP: 1312
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $59,916
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas
MastCIP: 1313
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $63,707
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Doctoral Degrees
Educational Administration and Supervision
DocCIP: 1304
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $100,573
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
DocCIP: 5138
Median Debt
-
Earnings (4yr)
-
Natl Median: $138,131
Lifetime Value Added
N/A
Note: Lifetime Value Added is the Net Present Value (NPV) of estimated career earnings relative to a median high school graduate (for undergraduate programs) or a median bachelor's degree holder (for graduate programs), 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 for graduate degrees should not be compared with those for Undergraduate Certificates, Associates or Bachelors.