AIC vs. Merrimack

Comparable Facts

Compare American International College in Springfield, MA with Merrimack College in North Andover, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Merrimack College is larger than AIC based on total student enrollment (5,862 students vs. 2,037 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• American International College is located in Springfield, MA (Midsize City setting); Merrimack College is in North Andover, MA (Large Suburban setting).
• American International College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Merrimack College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: American International College 16:1; Merrimack College 13:1.

AIC vs. Merrimack Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, AIC or Merrimack? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at American International College than Merrimack ($23,086 vs. $38,504).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American International College are 22.2% lower than at Merrimack College ($16,750 vs. $21,525).
• Merrimack College is 22% more expensive for in-state tuition than AIC (about $9,732 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $44,230.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 22% higher at Merrimack than at American International College (about $9,732 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $44,230.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at American International College as at Merrimack College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by American International College students is 14.7% larger than aid received by Merrimack College students ($36,184 vs. $31,550).

AIC vs. Merrimack Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, AIC or Merrimack? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Merrimack and AIC.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: American International College 940/1110.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: AIC - Test-free; Merrimack - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: AIC Sep 7, 2026; Merrimack Sep 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Merrimack students have a 0.39 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at AIC (2.91).
• AIC has a higher acceptance rate (99.6%) than Merrimack (70%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 11.2% at AIC vs. 9.9% at Merrimack.

AIC vs. Merrimack Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for AIC and Merrimack? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Merrimack College's six-year graduation rate (70%) is higher than American International College's (36%).
• Graduates from Merrimack College earn a median of about $11,600 more per year than AIC graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $46,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Merrimack College and AIC graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Merrimack College and AIC graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former AIC students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 49%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.