Merrimack vs. York

Comparable Facts

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

CUNY York College is larger than Merrimack based on total student enrollment (6,174 students vs. 5,862 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Merrimack vs. York Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merrimack or York? 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 CUNY York College than Merrimack ($5,131 vs. $38,504).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merrimack College are 3.3% lower than at CUNY York College ($21,525 vs. $22,260).
• Merrimack College is 633.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than York (about $46,604 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $7,358.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 252.5% higher at Merrimack than at CUNY York College (about $38,654 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $15,308.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merrimack College than at CUNY York College (100% vs. 83%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merrimack College students is 244.7% larger than aid received by CUNY York College students ($31,550 vs. $9,154).

Merrimack vs. York Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsCUNY York College 790/960.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Merrimack - Test-free; York - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Merrimack Sep 1, 2026; York Feb 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Merrimack students have a 0.15 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at York (3.15).
• Merrimack has a higher acceptance rate (70%) than York (64.1%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.9% at Merrimack vs. 7.7% at York.

Merrimack vs. York Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merrimack and York? 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 CUNY York College's (20%).
• Graduates from Merrimack College earn a median of about $14,800 more per year than York graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $43,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY York College graduates have a $18,200 lower median loan debt than Merrimack graduates ($8,800 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, York graduates have an estimated $189 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merrimack graduates ($90 vs. $279).
• More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former York 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.