Merrimack vs. KSC

Comparable Facts

Compare Merrimack College in North Andover, MA with Keene State College in Keene, NH on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Merrimack College is larger than KSC based on total student enrollment (5,862 students vs. 2,848 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merrimack College is located in North Andover, MA (Large Suburban setting); Keene State College is in Keene, NH (Distant Town setting).
• Merrimack College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Keene State College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merrimack College 13:1; Keene State College 17:1.

Merrimack vs. KSC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merrimack or KSC? 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 Keene State College than Merrimack ($19,997 vs. $38,504).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Keene State College are 36% lower than at Merrimack College ($13,766 vs. $21,525).
• Merrimack College is 265% more expensive for in-state tuition than KSC (about $39,178 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $14,784.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 101.1% higher at Merrimack than at Keene State College (about $27,122 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $26,840.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Merrimack College as at Keene State College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merrimack College students is 156.5% larger than aid received by Keene State College students ($31,550 vs. $12,302).

Merrimack vs. KSC Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsKeene State College 970/1170.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsKeene State College 24/25.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Merrimack - Test-free; KSC - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Merrimack Sep 1, 2026; KSC Dec 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Merrimack students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at KSC (3.1).
• KSC has a higher acceptance rate (90.3%) than Merrimack (70%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.9% at Merrimack vs. 14.5% at KSC.

Merrimack vs. KSC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merrimack and KSC? 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 Keene State College's (57%).
• Graduates from Merrimack College earn a median of about $13,600 more per year than KSC graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $44,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Keene State College graduates have a $705 lower median loan debt than Merrimack graduates ($26,295 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, KSC graduates have an estimated $8 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merrimack graduates ($271 vs. $279).
• More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former KSC students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 76%)

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.