Merrimack vs. CHC

Comparable Facts

Compare Merrimack College in North Andover, MA with Chestnut Hill College in Philadelphia, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Merrimack College is larger than CHC based on total student enrollment (5,862 students vs. 1,288 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merrimack College is located in North Andover, MA (Large Suburban setting); Chestnut Hill College is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
• Merrimack College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Chestnut Hill College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merrimack College 13:1; Chestnut Hill College 10:1.

Merrimack vs. CHC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merrimack or CHC? 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 Chestnut Hill College than Merrimack ($28,588 vs. $38,504).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Chestnut Hill College are 41.5% lower than at Merrimack College ($12,600 vs. $21,525).
• Merrimack College is 35.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than CHC (about $14,092 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $39,870.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 35.3% higher at Merrimack than at Chestnut Hill College (about $14,092 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $39,870.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Merrimack College as at Chestnut Hill College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merrimack College students is 6.6% larger than aid received by Chestnut Hill College students ($31,550 vs. $29,590).

Merrimack vs. CHC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Merrimack or CHC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between CHC and Merrimack.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) among enrolled freshmen who submitted scoresChestnut Hill College 900/1090.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Merrimack - Test-free; CHC - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Merrimack Sep 1, 2026.
• Enrolled freshman Merrimack students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at CHC (3.12).
• CHC has a higher acceptance rate (74.5%) than Merrimack (70%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.9% at Merrimack vs. 7.2% at CHC.

Merrimack vs. CHC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merrimack and CHC? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Merrimack College's six-year graduation rate (70%) is higher than Chestnut Hill College's (44%).
• Graduates from Merrimack College earn a median of about $12,700 more per year than CHC graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $45,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Chestnut Hill College graduates have a $519 lower median loan debt than Merrimack graduates ($26,481 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, CHC graduates have an estimated $6 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merrimack graduates ($273 vs. $279).
• More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CHC students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 47%)

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.