Merrimack vs. CU

Comparable Facts

Compare Merrimack College in North Andover, MA with Cumberland University in Lebanon, TN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Merrimack College is larger than CU based on total student enrollment (5,862 students vs. 3,457 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merrimack College is located in North Andover, MA (Large Suburban setting); Cumberland University is in Lebanon, TN (Distant Town setting).
• Merrimack College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cumberland University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merrimack College 13:1; Cumberland University 19:1.

Merrimack vs. CU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merrimack or CU? 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 Cumberland University than Merrimack ($18,499 vs. $38,504).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cumberland University are 40.5% lower than at Merrimack College ($12,800 vs. $21,525).
• Merrimack College is 93.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than CU (about $26,122 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $27,840.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 93.8% higher at Merrimack than at Cumberland University (about $26,122 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $27,840.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Merrimack College as at Cumberland University (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merrimack College students is 27.7% larger than aid received by Cumberland University students ($31,550 vs. $24,703).

Merrimack vs. CU Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Merrimack - Test-free; CU - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Merrimack Sep 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Merrimack students have the same average high school GPA (3.3) as students at CU (3.3).
• Merrimack has a higher acceptance rate (70%) than CU (67.3%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.9% at Merrimack vs. 40.5% at CU.

Merrimack vs. CU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merrimack and CU? 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 Cumberland University's (34%).
• Graduates from Merrimack College earn a median of about $18,100 more per year than CU graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $39,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Cumberland University graduates have a $5,271 lower median loan debt than Merrimack graduates ($21,729 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, CU graduates have an estimated $55 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merrimack graduates ($224 vs. $279).
• More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CU students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 60%)

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.