Bridgewater State vs. Merrimack

Comparable Facts

Compare Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, MA with Merrimack College in North Andover, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Bridgewater State University is larger than Merrimack based on total student enrollment (9,727 students vs. 5,862 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Bridgewater State University is located in Bridgewater, MA (Large Suburban setting); Merrimack College is in North Andover, MA (Large Suburban setting).
• Bridgewater State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Merrimack College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Bridgewater State University 17:1; Merrimack College 13:1.

Bridgewater State vs. Merrimack Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Bridgewater State 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 Bridgewater State University than Merrimack ($15,646 vs. $38,504).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bridgewater State University are 29.2% lower than at Merrimack College ($15,247 vs. $21,525).
• Merrimack College is 357% more expensive for in-state tuition than Bridgewater State (about $42,154 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $11,808.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 200.7% higher at Merrimack than at Bridgewater State University (about $36,014 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $17,948.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merrimack College than at Bridgewater State University (100% vs. 86%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merrimack College students is 205.8% larger than aid received by Bridgewater State University students ($31,550 vs. $10,318).

Bridgewater State vs. Merrimack Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Bridgewater State 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 Bridgewater State.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bridgewater State University 1060/1263.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Bridgewater State University 25/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Bridgewater State - Test optional; Merrimack - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Bridgewater State Feb 15, 2027; Merrimack Sep 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Merrimack students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Bridgewater State (3.21).
• Bridgewater State has a higher acceptance rate (87.8%) than Merrimack (70%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.4% at Bridgewater State vs. 9.9% at Merrimack.

Bridgewater State vs. Merrimack Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Bridgewater State 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 Bridgewater State University's (52%).
• Graduates from Merrimack College earn a median of about $12,300 more per year than Bridgewater State graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $45,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bridgewater State University graduates have a $2,410 lower median loan debt than Merrimack graduates ($24,590 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Bridgewater State graduates have an estimated $25 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merrimack graduates ($254 vs. $279).
• More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Bridgewater State students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 64%)

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.