Merrimack vs. Plaza College

Comparable Facts

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

Merrimack College is larger than Plaza College based on total student enrollment (5,862 students vs. 1,002 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merrimack College is located in North Andover, MA (Large Suburban setting); Plaza College is in Forest Hills, NY (Large City setting).
• Merrimack College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Plaza College is a private, for-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merrimack College 13:1; Plaza College 28:1.

Merrimack vs. Plaza College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merrimack or Plaza 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 Plaza College than Merrimack ($19,860 vs. $38,504).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Plaza College are 28% lower than at Merrimack College ($15,500 vs. $21,525).
• Merrimack College is 249.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Plaza College (about $38,512 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $15,450.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 249.3% higher at Merrimack than at Plaza College (about $38,512 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $15,450.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merrimack College than at Plaza College (100% vs. 93%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merrimack College students is 373.4% larger than aid received by Plaza College students ($31,550 vs. $6,665).

Merrimack vs. Plaza College Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Merrimack - Test-free; Plaza College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Merrimack Sep 1, 2026.
• Merrimack has a higher acceptance rate (70%) than Plaza College (30%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.9% at Merrimack vs. 54.9% at Plaza College.

Merrimack vs. Plaza College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merrimack and Plaza 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).

• Graduates from Merrimack College earn a median of about $30,700 more per year than Plaza College graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $27,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Plaza College graduates have a $13,085 lower median loan debt than Merrimack graduates ($13,915 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Plaza College graduates have an estimated $136 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merrimack graduates ($143 vs. $279).
• More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Plaza College students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 30%)

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.