The Catholic University of America vs. Merrimack

Deciding between The Catholic University of America and Merrimack College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

The Catholic University of America
Merrimack College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • The Catholic University of America Washington, DC
  • Merrimack North Andover, MA
  • Setting
  • The Catholic University of America Large City
  • Merrimack Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • The Catholic University of America 5,243
  • Merrimack 5,862
  • Type
  • The Catholic University of America Private 4 Year
  • Merrimack Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • The Catholic University of America
  • Merrimack
  • Religious Affiliation
  • The Catholic University of America Roman Catholic
  • Merrimack Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • The Catholic University of America Non-profit
  • Merrimack Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • The Catholic University of America
  • Merrimack

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • The Catholic University of America $58,378
  • Merrimack $53,962
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • The Catholic University of America $58,378
  • Merrimack $53,962
  • Room & Board
  • The Catholic University of America $18,200
  • Merrimack $21,525
  • Average Net Price
  • The Catholic University of America $32,705
  • Merrimack $38,504
  • Average Grant Aid
  • The Catholic University of America $42,657
  • Merrimack $31,550
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • The Catholic University of America 99%
  • Merrimack 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • The Catholic University of America 6,714
  • Merrimack 14,070
  • Admitted
  • The Catholic University of America 5,558
  • Merrimack 9,852
  • Acceptance Rate
  • The Catholic University of America 82.8%
  • Merrimack 70%
  • Enrolled
  • The Catholic University of America 13.4%
  • Merrimack 9.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • The Catholic University of America
  • Merrimack
  • Typical ACT score
  • The Catholic University of America
  • Merrimack
  • Average High School GPA
  • The Catholic University of America 3.52
  • Merrimack 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • The Catholic University of America A-
  • Merrimack B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • The Catholic University of America Unavailable
  • Merrimack Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • The Catholic University of America
  • Merrimack Low
  • ACT Range
  • The Catholic University of America
  • Merrimack
  • SAT Range
  • The Catholic University of America
  • Merrimack
  • Submit Test Scores
  • The Catholic University of America Test-free
  • Merrimack Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • The Catholic University of America Jan 15, 2027
  • Merrimack Sep 1, 2026

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • The Catholic University of America 11:1
  • Merrimack 13:1
  • Popular Majors
  • The Catholic University of America
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Architecture (11%)
    • Business (11%)
    • Health Professions (9%)
    • Engineering (7%)
  • Merrimack
    • Business (32%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Biology (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • The Catholic University of America 68%
  • Merrimack 70%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • The Catholic University of America $58,600
  • Merrimack $58,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • The Catholic University of America 77%
  • Merrimack 78%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • The Catholic University of America $26,106
  • Merrimack $27,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • The Catholic University of America $269
  • Merrimack $279

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • The Catholic University of America 48%
  • Merrimack 43%
  • % Women
  • The Catholic University of America 52%
  • Merrimack 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • The Catholic University of America Medium
  • Merrimack Low
  • HBCU
  • The Catholic University of America No
  • Merrimack No
  • % White
  • The Catholic University of America 64%
  • Merrimack 73%
  • % Asian
  • The Catholic University of America 3%
  • Merrimack 1%
  • % Black
  • The Catholic University of America 5%
  • Merrimack 3%
  • % Hispanic
  • The Catholic University of America 13%
  • Merrimack 5%
  • % Native American
  • The Catholic University of America 0%
  • Merrimack 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • The Catholic University of America 0%
  • Merrimack 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • The Catholic University of America 5%
  • Merrimack 1%
  • % International
  • The Catholic University of America 5%
  • Merrimack 5%
  • % Unknown Race
  • The Catholic University of America 4%
  • Merrimack 11%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • The Catholic University of America 8%
  • Merrimack 68%
  • % Out-of-State
  • The Catholic University of America 84%
  • Merrimack 30%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • The Catholic University of America Yes
  • Merrimack Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • The Catholic University of America No
  • Merrimack No
  • Meal Plan
  • The Catholic University of America Yes
  • Merrimack Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • The Catholic University of America No
  • Merrimack No
  • Daycare Facility
  • The Catholic University of America No
  • Merrimack No
  • Learn More
  • The Catholic University of America Details
  • Merrimack Details

Comparable Facts

Compare The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC 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 The Catholic University of America based on total student enrollment (5,862 students vs. 5,243 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • The Catholic University of America is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Merrimack College is in North Andover, MA (Large Suburban setting).
  • The Catholic University of America is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Merrimack College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: The Catholic University of America 11:1; Merrimack College 13:1.

The Catholic University of America vs. Merrimack Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, The Catholic University of America 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 The Catholic University of America than Merrimack ($32,705 vs. $38,504).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at The Catholic University of America are 15.4% lower than at Merrimack College ($18,200 vs. $21,525).
  • The Catholic University of America is 8.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merrimack (about $4,416 more per year; $58,378.00 vs. $53,962.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.2% higher at The Catholic University of America than at Merrimack College (about $4,416 more per year; $58,378.00 vs. $53,962.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merrimack College than at The Catholic University of America (100% vs. 99%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by The Catholic University of America students is 35.2% larger than aid received by Merrimack College students ($42,657 vs. $31,550).

The Catholic University of America vs. Merrimack Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, The Catholic University of America or Merrimack? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Merrimack and The Catholic University of America.

  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: The Catholic University of America - Test-free; Merrimack - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: The Catholic University of America Jan 15, 2027; Merrimack Sep 1, 2026.
  • Enrolled freshman The Catholic University of America students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at Merrimack (3.3).
  • The Catholic University of America has a higher acceptance rate (82.8%) than Merrimack (70%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 13.4% at The Catholic University of America vs. 9.9% at Merrimack.

The Catholic University of America vs. Merrimack Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for The Catholic University of America and Merrimack? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

  • Merrimack College's six-year graduation rate (70%) is higher than The Catholic University of America's (68%).
  • Graduates from The Catholic University of America earn a median of about $600 more per year than Merrimack graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,600 vs. $58,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, The Catholic University of America graduates have a $894 lower median loan debt than Merrimack graduates ($26,106 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, The Catholic University of America graduates have an estimated $10 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merrimack graduates ($269 vs. $279).
  • More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former The Catholic University of America students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 77%)

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.