Merrimack College is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in North Andover, Massachusetts. It enrolls 3,916 students (a mid-sized student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.
AccreditorNew England Commission on Higher Education
Academic CalendarSemester
How It Measures Up
US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.
Good
59/100
UCD Score · 4-Year Selective
Outcomes72
Value20
Affordability8
Selectivity62
Admissions & Acceptance Rate
With an acceptance rate of 70%, Merrimack College is moderately selective.
Acceptance Rate
70%
Moderate
SAT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
ACT Range (25th–75th)
—
Not reported
Test PolicyTest OptionalApplicants choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores.
5-Year Admission Trend
Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Merrimack College is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.
Getting more selective ↓
8.3 pts
since 2019
Cost & Financial Aid
The real cost of attending Merrimack College isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $37,927 per year. That's above the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.
Average Net Price
$37,927
Per year, after typical aid
Receive Pell Grants
16%
Need-based federal aid
Receive Federal Loans
60%
Borrowing to attend
Full Cost Breakdown
Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.
Tuition & Fees
$53,962
Room & Board (on-campus)
$21,525
Room & Board (off-campus)
$21,525
Books & Supplies
$1,000
Other Expenses (on-campus)
$2,200
Other Expenses (off-campus)
$2,200
Total Cost of Attendance
$70,038
Net Price by Family Income
Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.
Under $30,000
$31,710
$30,001 – $48,000
$29,417
$48,001 – $75,000
$31,962
$75,001 – $110,000
$36,045
Over $110,000
$41,050
Debt at Graduation
Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.
$5,50010%percentile
$8,80225%percentile
$27,000Medianpercentile
$27,00075%percentile
$29,00090%percentile
Median Debt by Student Type
Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.
GroupDebtvs Median
Pell recipients $25,000
↓ $2,000
No Pell $23,250
↓ $3,750
Dependent students $23,750
↓ $3,250
Independent students $23,000
↓ $4,000
Female students $24,250
↓ $2,750
Male students $23,250
↓ $3,750
Worth knowing:
Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $8,090, less than completers ($27,000), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.
Graduation Rate & Retention
72% of full-time students who enrolled at Merrimack College graduate within six years, and 82% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
6-Year Graduation Rate
72%
Of students who graduate within six years
First-Year Retention
82%
Returning for their second year
After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes
According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Merrimack College earn a median of $75,584 ten years after first enrolling. That's above the national median for U.S. colleges.
Median Earnings (10 yrs)
$75,584
Earning > $25K
94%
10 yrs after entry
Earnings Growth After Graduation
Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.
Earnings by Demographic
Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.
By Gender
Female graduates
$55,900
Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.
Male graduates
$69,200
Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.
By Family Income at Entry
Family income (lowest third)
$62,900
Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (middle third)
$56,300
Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.
Family income (highest third)
$63,500
Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.
The gender gap:
Male graduates earn $13,300, about 19% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.
Loan Repayment Progression
Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.
Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑
12.1 pts
across 6 years
What this signals:
Excellent. 94% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.
Who Studies Here
Merrimack College is home to 3,916 students, a mid-sized community.
Total Enrolled
3,916
Part-Time
3%
First-Generation
21%
Race & Ethnicity Breakdown
Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.
GroupShareStudents
White 74.5%2,918
Hispanic 11.9%464
Black 4.0%158
Other 3.0%116
International 2.0%78
Asian 1.9%76
Student Life & Campus Culture
Where students live, learn, and connect at Merrimack College. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.
Setting
Large SuburbNorth Andover, Massachusetts
Housing
Strongly residential2,826 beds for 3,916 students
Adult Learners
2%of students are 25 or older
Athletics
NCAAathletic-conference member
Academic Calendar
Semesterscheduling structure
Designation
Religiously affiliated
What You Can Study
Merrimack College offers
an extensive catalog of programs:
94 distinct programs across
26 majors.
Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings.
Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.
The student-to-faculty ratio at Merrimack College is 14:1, close to the national average.
Student : Faculty
14:1
Students per instructional faculty member
Endowment
$188M
Solid financial position
Avg Faculty Salary
$101,232
9-month equivalent across all ranks
Faculty by Rank
196 instructional faculty across 5 ranks.
The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.
Rank
Faculty Count
Share
Avg Salary
Full Professors
32
16%
$126,625
Associate Professors
79
40%
$105,629
Assistant Professors
74
38%
$88,684
Instructors
1
1%
$97,961
Lecturers
10
5%
$78,413
Pros & Cons of Merrimack College
A quick at-a-glance summary of how Merrimack College tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.
PROS
Reasonable class sizes
Above-average graduation rate
Above-average post-graduation earnings
CONS
High net price compared to most US colleges
High published cost of attendance before aid
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families
Best for:
Based on the data, Merrimack College is a fit for
students prioritizing post-graduation earnings.
Frequently Asked Questions about Merrimack College
Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Merrimack College.
Is Merrimack College hard to get into?
Admissions at Merrimack College are moderately competitive. The acceptance rate is 70%, so most applicants who meet the academic minimums are admitted.
What is the acceptance rate at Merrimack College?
Merrimack College has an acceptance rate of 70%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.
How much does Merrimack College cost?
The average net price after aid at Merrimack College is $37,927 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.
Is Merrimack College worth it?
Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $75,584 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $37,927 per year. That's roughly 2.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.
What is Merrimack College known for?
Merrimack College is best known for its programs in Human Development, Teacher Education (K-12), Criminal Justice. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
What do Merrimack College graduates earn?
Median earnings 10 years after entering Merrimack College are $75,584, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.
Is Merrimack College accredited?
Yes. Merrimack College is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.
How many students attend Merrimack College?
Merrimack College enrolls 3,916 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.
What is the graduation rate at Merrimack College?
Merrimack College graduates 72% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.
Is Merrimack College a public or private college?
Merrimack College is a Private Nonprofit institution.
Where is Merrimack College located?
Merrimack College is located in North Andover, Massachusetts.
What programs does Merrimack College offer?
Merrimack College offers 94 distinct programs. The most popular include Human Development, Teacher Education (K-12), Criminal Justice.
What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Merrimack College?
The student-to-faculty ratio at Merrimack College is 14:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.
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