Admit rate has ranged 74%–82% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Merrimack College is a mid-sized, moderately selective Catholic institution in suburban Massachusetts with a pragmatic, career-focused academic bent. Known for its tight-knit campus culture and Division I athletics, it attracts students who want a balanced college experience—solid academics without cutthroat competition, spirited school pride without Greek life dominance, and a supportive environment where 70% of applicants get in but 72% graduate on time.
Admission requirements
Test-blind — scores not considered
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
College-prep program
TOEFL (non-native English)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
3,916
In-state tuition
$53,962
Out-of-state tuition
$53,962
Location
North Andover, MA
Popular Majors
Business, Nursing, Criminal Justice
Acceptance Rate
70%
Graduation Rate
72%
Median Student Debt
$27,000
Early Acceptance Rate
83.8%
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$75,584
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
2.0×
Median debt at graduation
$27,000
Graduation rate
70%
First-year retention
79%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
78%
Pell (lower-income) share
30%
First-generation share
21%
Endowment / student
$22,186
Financial health
3.0 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Business Administration, Management and Operations$44,327
Communication and Media Studies$38,289
Psychology, General$36,141
Physiology, Pathology and Related Sciences$35,600
Education, General$29,685
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
7
Per 1,000 students
1.79
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
94
Summer high
81°F
Winter low
24°F
Annual rain
49.8"
Annual snow
40.2"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively High
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
91
Scholarly works
2,256
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
0.8%
Bottom → top quintile
27%
From bottom quintile
3%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Merrimack College?
Merrimack College's acceptance rate is approximately 70% (North Andover, MA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does Merrimack College cost?
At Merrimack College, the average net price (after aid) is about $37,927 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Merrimack College?
Merrimack College enrolls approximately 3,916 undergraduate students.
Where is Merrimack College located?
Merrimack College is located in North Andover, MA.
Admissions
Merrimack’s admissions process leans accessible, with a 70% acceptance rate—though early applicants enjoy an 83.8% admit rate, suggesting strategic advantages to applying early. The middle 50% of admitted students typically post SAT scores between 1080–1220 or ACT scores of 20–24, with nearly half (48%) arriving with high school GPAs of 3.5 or higher. Notably, the college received 14,070 applications for a recent cycle, admitting 9,852 students. While Test-optionalA policy where you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you don't, the rest of your application carries more weight., submitted scores align with regional public university benchmarks rather than elite liberal arts colleges.
Merrimack’s academic identity orbits around career-ready programs, with business, health professions, and marketing majors dominating enrollment. The college emphasizes and faculty accessibility, boasting more full-time professors per student than typical for its size. Key offerings include:
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$28,816
Natural Resources Conservation and Research$25,194
Criminal Justice and Corrections$25,194
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
small classes
Flexible graduate programs: Hybrid/online options for master’s and doctoral degrees.
High-demand majors: Nursing, criminal justice, and finance rank among the most popular.
Hands-on learning: Co-ops and internships are woven into curricula, particularly in the School of Arts and Sciences (which houses staples like English and history).
Reviews suggest the academic experience is solid but unexceptional—a Facebook alum group sums it up: 'It isn’t an outstanding college. It isn’t a terrible college. It is mid-level.'
Campus culture thrives on Division I athletics (28 varsity teams) and communal traditions, with 60% of students living on campus in North Andover’s suburban setting. The vibe is social but not party-centric—Niche reviews highlight:
Dining and housing: Standard fare, with no major complaints or standouts.
Clubs and activities: 100+ organizations, though Greek life plays a minor role.
School spirit: Hockey games and Warrior pride are unifying forces.
TikTok student posts showcase a friendly, engaged community where weekends mix off-campus bars (40% live nearby) with intramural sports and campus events.
