Merrimack vs. Penn College

Comparable Facts

Compare Merrimack College in North Andover, MA with Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Merrimack College is larger than Penn College based on total student enrollment (5,862 students vs. 4,575 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merrimack College is located in North Andover, MA (Large Suburban setting); Pennsylvania College of Technology is in Williamsport, PA (Small City setting).
• Merrimack College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Pennsylvania College of Technology is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merrimack College 13:1; Pennsylvania College of Technology 14:1.

Merrimack vs. Penn College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merrimack or Penn 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 Pennsylvania College of Technology than Merrimack ($23,675 vs. $38,504).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pennsylvania College of Technology are 40.5% lower than at Merrimack College ($12,818 vs. $21,525).
• Merrimack College is 195.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Penn College (about $35,722 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $18,240.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 107.7% higher at Merrimack than at Pennsylvania College of Technology (about $27,982 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $25,980.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merrimack College than at Pennsylvania College of Technology (100% vs. 68%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merrimack College students is 252% larger than aid received by Pennsylvania College of Technology students ($31,550 vs. $8,964).

Merrimack vs. Penn College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Merrimack or Penn 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 Penn College and Merrimack.

• Pennsylvania College of Technology reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Merrimack - Test-free; Penn College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Merrimack Sep 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Merrimack students have a 0.25 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Penn College (3.05).

Merrimack vs. Penn College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merrimack and Penn 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 Pennsylvania College of Technology's (42%).
• Graduates from Merrimack College earn a median of about $13,600 more per year than Penn College graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $44,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Pennsylvania College of Technology graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than Merrimack graduates ($21,500 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Penn College graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merrimack graduates ($222 vs. $279).
• More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Penn College students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 65%)

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.