Merrimack vs. Paul Smith's College

Comparable Facts

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

Merrimack College is larger than Paul Smith's College based on total student enrollment (5,862 students vs. 948 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merrimack College is located in North Andover, MA (Large Suburban setting); Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science is in Paul Smiths, NY (Distant Rural setting).
• Merrimack College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merrimack College 13:1; Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science 12:1.

Merrimack vs. Paul Smith's College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merrimack or Paul Smith's College? 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 Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science than Merrimack ($28,443 vs. $38,504).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science are 33.9% lower than at Merrimack College ($14,236 vs. $21,525).
• Merrimack College is 63.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Paul Smith's College (about $20,953 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $33,009.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 63.5% higher at Merrimack than at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science (about $20,953 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $33,009.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Merrimack College as at Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merrimack College students is 37.3% larger than aid received by Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science students ($31,550 vs. $22,973).

Merrimack vs. Paul Smith's College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Merrimack or Paul Smith's College? 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 Paul Smith's College and Merrimack.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Merrimack - Test-free; Paul Smith's College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Merrimack Sep 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Merrimack students have a 0.5 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Paul Smith's College (2.8).
• Paul Smith's College has a higher acceptance rate (76.5%) than Merrimack (70%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.9% at Merrimack vs. 18.8% at Paul Smith's College.

Merrimack vs. Paul Smith's College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merrimack and Paul Smith's College? 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 Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science's (37%).
• Graduates from Merrimack College earn a median of about $21,300 more per year than Paul Smith's College graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $36,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Merrimack graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Paul Smith's College graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merrimack graduates ($258 vs. $279).
• More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Paul Smith's College students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 70%)

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.