Delaware State University vs. Merrimack

Should I go to Delaware State University or Merrimack College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Delaware State University or Merrimack is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Delaware State University vs. Merrimack College comparison
Delaware State University Merrimack College College 3 College 4
Delaware State University Merrimack College
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Overview

Delaware State University Merrimack
Location Dover, DE North Andover, MA
Setting Small City Large Suburban
Enrollment 5,828 5,688
Type Public 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #925
Religious Affiliation - Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website desu.edu merrimack.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Delaware State University Merrimack
Tuition (In State) $8,544 $47,636
Tuition (Out of State) $18,480 $47,636
Room & Board $13,634 $19,995
Avg Net Price $15,555 $38,849
Avg Grant Aid $11,842 $29,235
% Receiving Grant Aid 91% 100%

Admission

Delaware State University Merrimack
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 7,542 13,693
Admitted 4,651 10,079
Acceptance Rate 61.7% 73.6%
Enrolled % 30.2% 10.6%
Avg High School GPA 3.09 3.3
Typical High School Grades B B+
Admissions Standards Very Easy Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low Low
ACT Range 22/26
SAT Range 860/1070
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Feb 1, 2026 Sep 1, 2025

Academics

Delaware State University Merrimack
Student to Faculty Ratio 18:1 14:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (15%)
  • Psychology (13%)
  • Communication (12%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Health Professions (10%)
  • Business (32%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Biology (6%)

Outcomes

Delaware State University Merrimack
Graduation Rate 35% 70%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $36,600 $58,000
Making Student Loan Payments 32% 78%
Median Student Loan Debt $28,500 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $294 $279

Diversity

Delaware State University Merrimack
% Men 5% 9%
% Women 11% 17%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU Yes No
% White 11% 73%
% Black 75% 3%
% Hispanic 6% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 1%
% International 2% 5%
% Unknown Race 1% 11%

Students

Delaware State University Merrimack
% In-State 46% 66%
% Out-of-State 52% 32%

Campus

Delaware State University Merrimack
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Delaware State University is larger than than Merrimack based on total student enrollment (5,828 students vs. 5,688 students)

Delaware State University vs. Merrimack Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Delaware State University or Merrimack?

  • Merrimack College is 457.5% more expensive to attend than Delaware State University for in-state tuition ($47,636.00 vs. $8,544.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 157.8% higher at Merrimack than Delaware State University ($47,636.00 vs. $18,480.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Delaware State University than Merrimack ($15,555 vs. $38,849)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Delaware State University are 46.7% lower than costs at Merrimack College ($13,634 vs. $19,995)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Merrimack College than Delaware State University (100% vs. 91%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Merrimack College students is 146.9% larger than aid received Delaware State University ($29,235 vs. $11,842)

Delaware State University vs. Merrimack Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Delaware State University or Merrimack? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Merrimack or Delaware State University .

  • Accepted freshman Merrimack students have a 0.21 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Delaware State University (3.09)
  • Merrimack has a higher acceptance rate (73.6%) than Delaware State University (61.7%)

Delaware State University vs. Merrimack Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Delaware State University or Merrimack? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Merrimack and Delaware State University.

  • The graduation rate at Merrimack is higher than Delaware State University (70% vs. 35%)
  • Graduates from Merrimack College earn on average $21,400 more per year than Delaware State University graduates after ten years. ($58,000 vs. $36,600)
  • Merrimack College students graduate with a $1,500 lower median federal student loan debt than Delaware State University graduates. ($27,000 vs. $28,500)
  • Merrimack graduates are paying $15 less per month on federal student loans than Delaware State University graduates. ($279 vs. $294)
  • More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Delaware State University students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 32%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/