Dean College vs. Merrimack

Comparable Facts

Compare Dean College in Franklin, 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 Dean College based on total student enrollment (5,862 students vs. 1,092 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Dean College is located in Franklin, MA (Large Suburban setting); Merrimack College is in North Andover, MA (Large Suburban setting).
• Dean College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Merrimack College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Dean College 15:1; Merrimack College 13:1.

Dean College vs. Merrimack Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Dean 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 Dean College than Merrimack ($32,085 vs. $38,504).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dean College are 7.7% lower than at Merrimack College ($19,864 vs. $21,525).
• Merrimack College is 16% more expensive for in-state tuition than Dean College (about $7,436 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $46,526.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 16% higher at Merrimack than at Dean College (about $7,436 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $46,526.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Dean College as at Merrimack College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Dean College students is 4.5% larger than aid received by Merrimack College students ($32,958 vs. $31,550).

Dean College vs. Merrimack Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Dean 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 Dean College.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Dean College - Test-free; Merrimack - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Dean College Sep 1, 2026; Merrimack Sep 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Merrimack students have a 0.42 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Dean College (2.88).
• Dean College has a higher acceptance rate (73.7%) than Merrimack (70%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 8.7% at Dean College vs. 9.9% at Merrimack.

Dean College vs. Merrimack Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Dean 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 Dean College's (62%).
• Graduates from Merrimack College earn a median of about $22,800 more per year than Dean College graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $35,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Dean College graduates have a $10,647 lower median loan debt than Merrimack graduates ($16,353 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Dean College graduates have an estimated $110 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merrimack graduates ($169 vs. $279).
• More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Dean College students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 53%)

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.