CCU vs. Merrimack

Comparable Facts

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

Colorado Christian University is larger than Merrimack based on total student enrollment (9,951 students vs. 5,862 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

CCU vs. Merrimack Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, CCU 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 Colorado Christian University than Merrimack ($30,940 vs. $38,504).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Colorado Christian University are 38.5% lower than at Merrimack College ($13,234 vs. $21,525).
• Merrimack College is 30.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than CCU (about $12,620 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $41,342.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 30.5% higher at Merrimack than at Colorado Christian University (about $12,620 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $41,342.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Colorado Christian University as at Merrimack College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merrimack College students is 35.4% larger than aid received by Colorado Christian University students ($31,550 vs. $23,302).

CCU vs. Merrimack Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, CCU 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 CCU.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: CCU - Not reported; Merrimack - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: CCU Aug 1, 2027; Merrimack Sep 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman CCU students have a 0.54 point higher average high school GPA (3.84) than students at Merrimack (3.3).

CCU vs. Merrimack Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for CCU 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 Colorado Christian University's (42%).
• Graduates from Merrimack College earn a median of about $16,400 more per year than CCU graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $41,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Colorado Christian University graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Merrimack graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, CCU 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 CCU students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 50%)

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.