Merrimack vs. RIC

Deciding between Merrimack College and Rhode Island College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Merrimack College
Rhode Island College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Merrimack North Andover, MA
  • RIC Providence, RI
  • Setting
  • Merrimack Large Suburban
  • RIC Large Suburban
  • Total enrollment
  • Merrimack 5,862
  • RIC 6,155
  • Type
  • Merrimack Private 4 Year
  • RIC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Merrimack
  • RIC #843
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Merrimack Roman Catholic
  • RIC -
  • Status
  • Merrimack Non-profit
  • RIC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Merrimack
  • RIC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Merrimack $53,962
  • RIC $11,300
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Merrimack $53,962
  • RIC $27,299
  • Room & Board
  • Merrimack $21,525
  • RIC $13,414
  • Average Net Price
  • Merrimack $38,504
  • RIC $10,346
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Merrimack $31,550
  • RIC $6,706
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Merrimack 100%
  • RIC 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Merrimack 14,070
  • RIC 5,415
  • Admitted
  • Merrimack 9,852
  • RIC 4,972
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Merrimack 70%
  • RIC 91.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Merrimack 9.9%
  • RIC 23.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Merrimack
  • RIC 1000
  • Typical ACT score
  • Merrimack
  • RIC
  • Average High School GPA
  • Merrimack 3.3
  • RIC 3.08
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Merrimack B+
  • RIC B
  • Admissions Standards
  • Merrimack Unavailable
  • RIC Extremely Easy
  • Applicant Competition
  • Merrimack Low
  • RIC
  • ACT Range
  • Merrimack
  • RIC
  • SAT Range
  • Merrimack
  • RIC 870/1120
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Merrimack Test-free
  • RIC Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Merrimack Sep 1, 2026
  • RIC Mar 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Merrimack 13:1
  • RIC 15:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Merrimack
    • Business (32%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Biology (6%)
  • RIC
    • Education (21%)
    • Business (17%)
    • Psychology (12%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Merrimack 70%
  • RIC 44%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Merrimack $58,000
  • RIC $42,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Merrimack 78%
  • RIC 59%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Merrimack $27,000
  • RIC $21,200
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Merrimack $279
  • RIC $219

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Merrimack 43%
  • RIC 30%
  • % Women
  • Merrimack 57%
  • RIC 70%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Merrimack Low
  • RIC Medium
  • HBCU
  • Merrimack No
  • RIC No
  • % White
  • Merrimack 73%
  • RIC 62%
  • % Asian
  • Merrimack 1%
  • RIC 3%
  • % Black
  • Merrimack 3%
  • RIC 8%
  • % Hispanic
  • Merrimack 5%
  • RIC 16%
  • % Native American
  • Merrimack 0%
  • RIC 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Merrimack 0%
  • RIC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Merrimack 1%
  • RIC 2%
  • % International
  • Merrimack 5%
  • RIC 0%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Merrimack 11%
  • RIC 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Merrimack 68%
  • RIC 87%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Merrimack 30%
  • RIC 13%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Merrimack Yes
  • RIC Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Merrimack No
  • RIC No
  • Meal Plan
  • Merrimack Yes
  • RIC Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Merrimack No
  • RIC Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Merrimack No
  • RIC Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Merrimack College in North Andover, MA with Rhode Island College in Providence, RI on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Rhode Island College is larger than Merrimack based on total student enrollment (6,155 students vs. 5,862 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Merrimack College is located in North Andover, MA (Large Suburban setting); Rhode Island College is in Providence, RI (Large Suburban setting).
  • Merrimack College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Rhode Island College is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Merrimack College 13:1; Rhode Island College 15:1.

Merrimack vs. RIC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merrimack or RIC? 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 Rhode Island College than Merrimack ($10,346 vs. $38,504).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rhode Island College are 37.7% lower than at Merrimack College ($13,414 vs. $21,525).
  • Merrimack College is 377.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than RIC (about $42,662 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $11,300.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 97.7% higher at Merrimack than at Rhode Island College (about $26,663 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $27,299.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merrimack College than at Rhode Island College (100% vs. 95%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Merrimack College students is 370.5% larger than aid received by Rhode Island College students ($31,550 vs. $6,706).

Merrimack vs. RIC Admissions comparison

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

  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsRhode Island College 870/1120.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Merrimack - Test-free; RIC - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Merrimack Sep 1, 2026; RIC Mar 15, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Merrimack students have a 0.22 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at RIC (3.08).
  • RIC has a higher acceptance rate (91.8%) than Merrimack (70%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.9% at Merrimack vs. 23.1% at RIC.

Merrimack vs. RIC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merrimack and RIC? 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 Rhode Island College's (44%).
  • Graduates from Merrimack College earn a median of about $16,000 more per year than RIC graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $42,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rhode Island College graduates have a $5,800 lower median loan debt than Merrimack graduates ($21,200 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, RIC graduates have an estimated $60 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merrimack graduates ($219 vs. $279).
  • More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former RIC students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 59%)

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.