Merrimack vs. CSE

Comparable Facts

Compare Merrimack College in North Andover, MA with Saint Elizabeth University in Morristown, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Merrimack College is larger than CSE based on total student enrollment (5,862 students vs. 871 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merrimack College is located in North Andover, MA (Large Suburban setting); Saint Elizabeth University is in Morristown, NJ (Large Suburban setting).
• Merrimack College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Saint Elizabeth University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merrimack College 13:1; Saint Elizabeth University 8:1.

Merrimack vs. CSE Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merrimack or CSE? 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 Saint Elizabeth University than Merrimack ($23,437 vs. $38,504).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Elizabeth University are 36.6% lower than at Merrimack College ($13,652 vs. $21,525).
• Merrimack College is 46.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than CSE (about $17,221 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $36,741.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 46.9% higher at Merrimack than at Saint Elizabeth University (about $17,221 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $36,741.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merrimack College than at Saint Elizabeth University (100% vs. 96%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merrimack College students is 6% larger than aid received by Saint Elizabeth University students ($31,550 vs. $29,755).

Merrimack vs. CSE Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Merrimack or CSE? 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 CSE and Merrimack.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Merrimack - Test-free; CSE - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Merrimack Sep 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Merrimack students have a 0.18 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at CSE (3.12).
• CSE has a higher acceptance rate (71%) than Merrimack (70%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.9% at Merrimack vs. 7.6% at CSE.

Merrimack vs. CSE Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merrimack and CSE? 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 Saint Elizabeth University's (58%).
• Graduates from Merrimack College earn a median of about $12,500 more per year than CSE graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $45,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Saint Elizabeth University graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Merrimack graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, CSE graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merrimack graduates ($258 vs. $279).
• More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CSE students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 57%)

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.