Head-to-head comparison
Salisbury University vs Mount St. Mary's University: which has better ROI?
Option A Salisbury, MD
Salisbury University
- Net price / year
- $17,743
- Earnings, 10 years
- $61,515
- Payback
- 5.4 yrs
Option B Emmitsburg, MD
Mount St. Mary's University
- Net price / year
- $22,655
- Earnings, 10 years
- $64,072
- Payback
- 5.8 yrs
Salisbury University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $70,972 in 5.4 years versus 5.8 years at Mount St. Mary's University, on median earnings of $61,515 vs $64,072 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Salisbury University | Mount St. Mary's University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $17,743 | $22,655 |
| Total net cost | $70,972 | $90,620 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $61,515 | $64,072 |
| Median debt | $21,000 | $25,391 |
| Payback | 5.4 yrs | 5.8 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $192,128 | $223,620 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Salisbury University or Mount St. Mary's University?
Salisbury University, at $17,743 a year after aid versus $22,655 — a gap of $4,912 a year, or $19,648 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Salisbury University or Mount St. Mary's University graduates earn more?
Mount St. Mary's University graduates report a median $64,072 ten years after entry, $2,557 more than the $61,515 at Salisbury University. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Salisbury University or Mount St. Mary's University?
Salisbury University: its completers carry a median $21,000 in federal loans versus $25,391 at Mount St. Mary's University, a difference of $4,391. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
68% of students finish at Salisbury University, against 65% at Mount St. Mary's University. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.