Merrimack vs. CUNY Graduate Center

Comparable Facts

Compare Merrimack College in North Andover, MA with CUNY Graduate School and University Center in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

CUNY Graduate School and University Center is larger than Merrimack based on total student enrollment (9,536 students vs. 5,862 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merrimack College is located in North Andover, MA (Large Suburban setting); CUNY Graduate School and University Center is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Merrimack College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. CUNY Graduate School and University Center is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merrimack College 13:1; CUNY Graduate School and University Center 13:1.

Merrimack vs. CUNY Graduate Center Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merrimack or CUNY Graduate Center? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merrimack College are 3.3% lower than at CUNY Graduate School and University Center ($21,525 vs. $22,260).
• Merrimack College is 645.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than CUNY Graduate Center (about $46,727 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $7,235.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 255.4% higher at Merrimack than at CUNY Graduate School and University Center (about $38,777 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $15,185.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merrimack College than at CUNY Graduate School and University Center (100% vs. 0%).

Merrimack vs. CUNY Graduate Center Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Merrimack or CUNY Graduate Center? 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 CUNY Graduate Center and Merrimack.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Merrimack - Test-free; CUNY Graduate Center - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Merrimack Sep 1, 2026.
• Merrimack has a higher acceptance rate (70%) than CUNY Graduate Center (68.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.9% at Merrimack vs. 12% at CUNY Graduate Center.

Merrimack vs. CUNY Graduate Center Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merrimack and CUNY Graduate Center? 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).

• Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Graduate School and University Center graduates have a $17,660 lower median loan debt than Merrimack graduates ($9,340 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, CUNY Graduate Center graduates have an estimated $183 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merrimack graduates ($96 vs. $279).
• More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CUNY Graduate Center 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.