Merrimack vs. Maria College of Albany

Comparable Facts

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

Merrimack College is larger than Maria College of Albany based on total student enrollment (5,862 students vs. 722 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merrimack College is located in North Andover, MA (Large Suburban setting); Maria College of Albany is in Albany, NY (Small City setting).
• Merrimack College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Maria College of Albany is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merrimack College 13:1; Maria College of Albany 6:1.

Merrimack vs. Maria College of Albany Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merrimack or Maria College of Albany? 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 Maria College of Albany than Merrimack ($16,254 vs. $38,504).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Maria College of Albany are 55.9% lower than at Merrimack College ($9,500 vs. $21,525).
• Merrimack College is 188% more expensive for in-state tuition than Maria College of Albany (about $35,222 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $18,740.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 188% higher at Merrimack than at Maria College of Albany (about $35,222 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $18,740.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merrimack College than at Maria College of Albany (100% vs. 76%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merrimack College students is 203.2% larger than aid received by Maria College of Albany students ($31,550 vs. $10,405).

Merrimack vs. Maria College of Albany Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Merrimack or Maria College of Albany? 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 Maria College of Albany and Merrimack.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsMaria College of Albany 965/1095.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Merrimack - Test-free; Maria College of Albany - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Merrimack Sep 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Merrimack students have a 0.8 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Maria College of Albany (2.5).
• Merrimack has a higher acceptance rate (70%) than Maria College of Albany (44.5%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.9% at Merrimack vs. 28.3% at Maria College of Albany.

Merrimack vs. Maria College of Albany Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merrimack and Maria College of Albany? 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).

• Graduates from Merrimack College earn a median of about $14,600 more per year than Maria College of Albany graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $43,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Maria College of Albany graduates have a $6,882 lower median loan debt than Merrimack graduates ($20,118 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Maria College of Albany graduates have an estimated $71 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merrimack graduates ($208 vs. $279).
• More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Maria College of Albany students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 45%)

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.