Anna Maria College vs. Merrimack

Comparable Facts

Compare Anna Maria College in Paxton, 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 Anna Maria College based on total student enrollment (5,862 students vs. 1,202 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Anna Maria College is located in Paxton, MA (Rural Fringe setting); Merrimack College is in North Andover, MA (Large Suburban setting).
• Anna Maria College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Merrimack College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Anna Maria College 12:1; Merrimack College 13:1.

Anna Maria College vs. Merrimack Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Anna Maria College 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 Anna Maria College than Merrimack ($29,094 vs. $38,504).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Anna Maria College are 16.9% lower than at Merrimack College ($17,892 vs. $21,525).
• Merrimack College is 21.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Anna Maria College (about $9,391 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $44,571.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 21.1% higher at Merrimack than at Anna Maria College (about $9,391 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $44,571.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Anna Maria College as at Merrimack College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Anna Maria College students is 2.6% larger than aid received by Merrimack College students ($32,385 vs. $31,550).

Anna Maria College vs. Merrimack Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Anna Maria College 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 Anna Maria College.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Anna Maria College - Test optional; Merrimack - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Merrimack Sep 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Merrimack students have a 0.36 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Anna Maria College (2.94).
• Merrimack has a higher acceptance rate (70%) than Anna Maria College (50.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 6.5% at Anna Maria College vs. 9.9% at Merrimack.

Anna Maria College vs. Merrimack Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Anna Maria College 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 Anna Maria College's (49%).
• Graduates from Merrimack College earn a median of about $13,400 more per year than Anna Maria College graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $44,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Anna Maria College graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Merrimack graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Anna Maria College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merrimack graduates ($258 vs. $279).
• More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Anna Maria College students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 59%)

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.