Fairfield University vs. Merrimack

Should I go to Fairfield University or Merrimack College? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Fairfield 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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Fairfield University vs. Merrimack College comparison
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Fairfield University Merrimack College
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Overview

Fairfield University Merrimack
Location Fairfield, CT North Andover, MA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 6,019 5,505
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #138
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic Roman Catholic - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website fairfield.edu merrimack.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Fairfield University Merrimack
Tuition (In State) $53,630 $45,815
Tuition (Out of State) $53,630 $45,815
Room & Board $16,750 $18,295
Avg Net Price $46,065 $37,296
Avg Grant Aid $25,279 $27,729
% Receiving Grant Aid 94% 97%

Admission

Fairfield University Merrimack
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 13,359 13,175
Admitted 6,971 9,833
Acceptance Rate 52.2% 74.6%
Enrolled % 19.1% 12%
Avg High School GPA 3.67 3.3
Typical High School Grades B+ B+
Admissions Standards Very High Unavailable
Applicant Competition Low
ACT Range 28/31
SAT Range 1240/1370
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind)
Application Deadline Jan 15, 2025 Sep 1, 2024

Academics

Fairfield University Merrimack
Student to Faculty Ratio 12:1 13:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (34%)
  • Social Sciences (14%)
  • Health Professions (11%)
  • Communication (8%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • Business (32%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Biology (6%)

Outcomes

Fairfield University Merrimack
Graduation Rate 82% 70%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $77,100 $58,000
Making Student Loan Payments 82% 78%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $27,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $279

Diversity

Fairfield University Merrimack
% Men 41% 43%
% Women 59% 57%
Racial Diversity Low Low
HBCU No No
% White 76% 73%
% Black 2% 3%
% Hispanic 7% 5%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 1%
% International 2% 5%
% Unknown Race 8% 11%

Students

Fairfield University Merrimack
% In-State 15% 66%
% Out-of-State 84% 31%

Campus

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

Comparable Facts

  • Fairfield University is larger than than Merrimack based on total student enrollment (6,019 students vs. 5,505 students)

Fairfield University vs. Merrimack Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fairfield University or Merrimack?

  • Fairfield University is 17.1% more expensive to attend than Merrimack for in-state tuition ($53,630.00 vs. $45,815.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 17.1% higher at Fairfield University than Merrimack College ($53,630.00 vs. $45,815.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Merrimack College than Fairfield University ($37,296 vs. $46,065)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fairfield University are 9.2% lower than costs at Merrimack College ($16,750 vs. $18,295)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Merrimack College than Fairfield University (97% vs. 94%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Merrimack College students is 9.7% larger than aid received Fairfield University ($27,729 vs. $25,279)

Fairfield University vs. Merrimack Admissions Difficulty Comparison

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

  • Accepted freshman Fairfield University students have a 0.37 point higher average high school GPA (3.67) than students at Merrimack (3.3)
  • Merrimack has a higher acceptance rate (74.6%) than Fairfield University (52.2%)

Fairfield University vs. Merrimack Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Fairfield 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 Fairfield University.

  • The graduation rate at Fairfield University is higher than Merrimack College (82% vs. 70%)
  • Graduates from Fairfield University earn on average $19,100 more per year than Merrimack graduates after ten years. ($77,100 vs. $58,000)
  • Merrimack College and Fairfield University graduates both have the same median student loan debt upon graduation ($27,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Merrimack College and Fairfield University graduates both have a median monthly student loan payment upon graduation ($279 vs. $279)
  • More Fairfield University graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Merrimack students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 78%)

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