Merrimack vs. CUW

Comparable Facts

Compare Merrimack College in North Andover, MA with Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon, WI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Merrimack College is larger than CUW based on total student enrollment (5,862 students vs. 5,253 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merrimack College is located in North Andover, MA (Large Suburban setting); Concordia University Wisconsin is in Mequon, WI (Rural Fringe setting).
• Merrimack College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Concordia University Wisconsin is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merrimack College 13:1; Concordia University Wisconsin 11:1.

Merrimack vs. CUW Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merrimack or CUW? 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 Concordia University Wisconsin than Merrimack ($31,916 vs. $38,504).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Concordia University Wisconsin are 38.7% lower than at Merrimack College ($13,200 vs. $21,525).
• Merrimack College is 52.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than CUW (about $18,492 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $35,470.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 52.1% higher at Merrimack than at Concordia University Wisconsin (about $18,492 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $35,470.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merrimack College than at Concordia University Wisconsin (100% vs. 99%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merrimack College students is 47.6% larger than aid received by Concordia University Wisconsin students ($31,550 vs. $21,379).

Merrimack vs. CUW Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsConcordia University Wisconsin 20/26.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Merrimack - Test-free; CUW - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Merrimack Sep 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman CUW students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.52) than students at Merrimack (3.3).
• CUW has a higher acceptance rate (78.2%) than Merrimack (70%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.9% at Merrimack vs. 14.1% at CUW.

Merrimack vs. CUW Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merrimack and CUW? 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 Concordia University Wisconsin's (58%).
• Graduates from Merrimack College earn a median of about $11,900 more per year than CUW graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $46,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Concordia University Wisconsin graduates have a $3,075 lower median loan debt than Merrimack graduates ($23,925 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, CUW graduates have an estimated $32 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merrimack graduates ($247 vs. $279).
• More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CUW students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 52%)

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.