Merrimack vs. American Musical and Dramatic Academy

Comparable Facts

Compare Merrimack College in North Andover, MA with American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Merrimack College is larger than American Musical and Dramatic Academy based on total student enrollment (5,862 students vs. 1,452 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merrimack College is located in North Andover, MA (Large Suburban setting); American Musical and Dramatic Academy is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Merrimack College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. American Musical and Dramatic Academy is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merrimack College 13:1; American Musical and Dramatic Academy 5:1.

Merrimack vs. American Musical and Dramatic Academy Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merrimack or American Musical and Dramatic Academy? 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 Merrimack College than American Musical and Dramatic Academy ($38,504 vs. $48,524).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at American Musical and Dramatic Academy are 11.3% lower than at Merrimack College ($19,100 vs. $21,525).
• Merrimack College is 15% more expensive for in-state tuition than American Musical and Dramatic Academy (about $7,034 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $46,928.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 15% higher at Merrimack than at American Musical and Dramatic Academy (about $7,034 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $46,928.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Merrimack College as at American Musical and Dramatic Academy (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merrimack College students is 83.9% larger than aid received by American Musical and Dramatic Academy students ($31,550 vs. $17,156).

Merrimack vs. American Musical and Dramatic Academy Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Merrimack or American Musical and Dramatic Academy? 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 American Musical and Dramatic Academy and Merrimack.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Merrimack - Test-free; American Musical and Dramatic Academy - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Merrimack Sep 1, 2026.
• Merrimack has a higher acceptance rate (70%) than American Musical and Dramatic Academy (24.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.9% at Merrimack vs. 27.4% at American Musical and Dramatic Academy.

Merrimack vs. American Musical and Dramatic Academy Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merrimack and American Musical and Dramatic Academy? 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).

• American Musical and Dramatic Academy's six-year graduation rate (100%) is higher than Merrimack College's (70%).
• Graduates from Merrimack College earn a median of about $25,500 more per year than American Musical and Dramatic Academy graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $32,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, American Musical and Dramatic Academy graduates have a $13,000 lower median loan debt than Merrimack graduates ($14,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, American Musical and Dramatic Academy graduates have an estimated $135 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merrimack graduates ($144 vs. $279).
• More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former American Musical and Dramatic Academy students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 42%)

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.