Fisher College vs. Merrimack

Comparable Facts

Compare Fisher College in Boston, 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 Fisher College based on total student enrollment (5,862 students vs. 1,652 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Fisher College is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Merrimack College is in North Andover, MA (Large Suburban setting).
• Fisher College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Merrimack College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Fisher College 14:1; Merrimack College 13:1.

Fisher College vs. Merrimack Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Fisher 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 Fisher College than Merrimack ($28,596 vs. $38,504).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Fisher College are 16.2% lower than at Merrimack College ($18,041 vs. $21,525).
• Merrimack College is 51.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than Fisher College (about $18,273 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $35,689.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 51.2% higher at Merrimack than at Fisher College (about $18,273 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $35,689.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merrimack College than at Fisher College (100% vs. 94%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merrimack College students is 24.3% larger than aid received by Fisher College students ($31,550 vs. $25,379).

Fisher College vs. Merrimack Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fisher College 800/1070.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Fisher College 15/24.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Fisher College - Test-free; Merrimack - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Merrimack Sep 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Merrimack students have a 0.58 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Fisher College (2.72).
• Fisher College has a higher acceptance rate (70.7%) than Merrimack (70%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 6.1% at Fisher College vs. 9.9% at Merrimack.

Fisher College vs. Merrimack Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Fisher 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 Fisher College's (48%).
• Graduates from Merrimack College earn a median of about $22,000 more per year than Fisher College graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $36,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Fisher College graduates have a $7,813 lower median loan debt than Merrimack graduates ($19,187 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Fisher College graduates have an estimated $81 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merrimack graduates ($198 vs. $279).
• More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fisher College students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 45%)

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.