Merrimack vs. Simon's Rock

Comparable Facts

Compare Merrimack College in North Andover, MA with Bard College at Simon's Rock in Great Barrington, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Merrimack College is larger than Simon's Rock based on total student enrollment (5,862 students vs. 314 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merrimack College is located in North Andover, MA (Large Suburban setting); Bard College at Simon's Rock is in Great Barrington, MA (Distant Town setting).
• Merrimack College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Bard College at Simon's Rock is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merrimack College 13:1; Bard College at Simon's Rock 6:1.

Merrimack vs. Simon's Rock Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merrimack or Simon's Rock? 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 Simon's Rock ($38,504 vs. $41,013).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Bard College at Simon's Rock are 12.4% lower than at Merrimack College ($18,852 vs. $21,525).
• Bard College at Simon's Rock is 27.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merrimack (about $14,818 more per year; $68,780.00 vs. $53,962.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 27.5% higher at Simon's Rock than at Merrimack College (about $14,818 more per year; $68,780.00 vs. $53,962.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merrimack College than at Bard College at Simon's Rock (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Bard College at Simon's Rock students is 35.1% larger than aid received by Merrimack College students ($42,635 vs. $31,550).

Merrimack vs. Simon's Rock Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Merrimack or Simon's Rock? 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 Simon's Rock and Merrimack.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Merrimack - Test-free; Simon's Rock - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Merrimack Sep 1, 2026; Simon's Rock Jun 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Simon's Rock students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.54) than students at Merrimack (3.3).
• Simon's Rock has a higher acceptance rate (95.9%) than Merrimack (70%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.9% at Merrimack vs. 53.6% at Simon's Rock.

Merrimack vs. Simon's Rock Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merrimack and Simon's Rock? 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).

• Graduates from Merrimack College earn a median of about $18,100 more per year than Simon's Rock graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $39,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Bard College at Simon's Rock graduates have a $12,500 lower median loan debt than Merrimack graduates ($14,500 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Simon's Rock graduates have an estimated $130 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merrimack graduates ($149 vs. $279).
• More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Simon's Rock students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 68%)

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.