Massachusetts College of Art and Design vs. Merrimack

Comparable Facts

Compare Massachusetts College of Art and Design 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 Massachusetts College of Art and Design based on total student enrollment (5,862 students vs. 1,989 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Massachusetts College of Art and Design is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Merrimack College is in North Andover, MA (Large Suburban setting).
• Massachusetts College of Art and Design is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Merrimack College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Massachusetts College of Art and Design 9:1; Merrimack College 13:1.

Massachusetts College of Art and Design vs. Merrimack Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Massachusetts College of Art and Design 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 Massachusetts College of Art and Design than Merrimack ($24,864 vs. $38,504).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Massachusetts College of Art and Design are 9.8% lower than at Merrimack College ($19,412 vs. $21,525).
• Merrimack College is 250.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Massachusetts College of Art and Design (about $38,562 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $15,400.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 24.3% higher at Merrimack than at Massachusetts College of Art and Design (about $10,562 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $43,400.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merrimack College than at Massachusetts College of Art and Design (100% vs. 84%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merrimack College students is 202.8% larger than aid received by Massachusetts College of Art and Design students ($31,550 vs. $10,421).

Massachusetts College of Art and Design vs. Merrimack Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Massachusetts College of Art and Design 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 Massachusetts College of Art and Design.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Massachusetts College of Art and Design - Test-free; Merrimack - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Massachusetts College of Art and Design Feb 1, 2027; Merrimack Sep 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Massachusetts College of Art and Design students have a 0.23 point higher average high school GPA (3.53) than students at Merrimack (3.3).
• Massachusetts College of Art and Design has a higher acceptance rate (76.3%) than Merrimack (70%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 17.3% at Massachusetts College of Art and Design vs. 9.9% at Merrimack.

Massachusetts College of Art and Design vs. Merrimack Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Massachusetts College of Art and Design 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 Massachusetts College of Art and Design's (68%).
• Graduates from Merrimack College earn a median of about $19,300 more per year than Massachusetts College of Art and Design graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $38,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Massachusetts College of Art and Design graduates have a $1,750 lower median loan debt than Merrimack graduates ($25,250 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Massachusetts College of Art and Design graduates have an estimated $18 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merrimack graduates ($261 vs. $279).
• More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Massachusetts College of Art and Design students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 64%)

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.