Merrimack vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Deciding between Merrimack College and Saint Mary's University of Minnesota? 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
Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Merrimack North Andover, MA
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Winona, MN
  • Setting
  • Merrimack Large Suburban
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Distant Town
  • Total enrollment
  • Merrimack 5,862
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 4,505
  • Type
  • Merrimack Private 4 Year
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Merrimack
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Merrimack Roman Catholic
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Merrimack Non-profit
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Merrimack
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Merrimack $53,962
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $45,080
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Merrimack $53,962
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $45,080
  • Room & Board
  • Merrimack $21,525
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $11,200
  • Average Net Price
  • Merrimack $38,504
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $22,032
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Merrimack $31,550
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $35,348
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Merrimack 100%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 100%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Merrimack 14,070
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1,441
  • Admitted
  • Merrimack 9,852
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1,337
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Merrimack 70%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 92.8%
  • Enrolled
  • Merrimack 9.9%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Merrimack
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Typical ACT score
  • Merrimack
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Average High School GPA
  • Merrimack 3.3
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 3.49
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Merrimack B+
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Merrimack Unavailable
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Merrimack Low
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • ACT Range
  • Merrimack
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • SAT Range
  • Merrimack
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Merrimack Test-free
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Merrimack Sep 1, 2026
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota May 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Merrimack 13:1
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Merrimack
    • Business (32%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Biology (6%)
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota
    • Business (48%)
    • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)
    • Health Professions (6%)
    • Education (5%)
    • Biology (5%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Merrimack 70%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 62%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Merrimack $58,000
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $48,400
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Merrimack 78%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 72%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Merrimack $27,000
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Merrimack $279
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Merrimack 43%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 37%
  • % Women
  • Merrimack 57%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 63%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Merrimack Low
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Low
  • HBCU
  • Merrimack No
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota No
  • % White
  • Merrimack 73%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 59%
  • % Asian
  • Merrimack 1%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 2%
  • % Black
  • Merrimack 3%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Merrimack 5%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 5%
  • % Native American
  • Merrimack 0%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Merrimack 0%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Merrimack 1%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 1%
  • % International
  • Merrimack 5%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 3%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Merrimack 11%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 23%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Merrimack 68%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 65%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Merrimack 30%
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 33%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Merrimack Yes
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Merrimack No
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota No
  • Meal Plan
  • Merrimack Yes
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Merrimack No
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Merrimack No
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota No
  • Learn More
  • Merrimack Details
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Details

Comparable Facts

Compare Merrimack College in North Andover, MA with Saint Mary's University of Minnesota in Winona, MN on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Merrimack College is larger than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota based on total student enrollment (5,862 students vs. 4,505 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Merrimack College is located in North Andover, MA (Large Suburban setting); Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is in Winona, MN (Distant Town setting).
  • Merrimack College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Merrimack College 13:1; Saint Mary's University of Minnesota 18:1.

Merrimack vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merrimack or Saint Mary's University of Minnesota? 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 Saint Mary's University of Minnesota than Merrimack ($22,032 vs. $38,504).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota are 48% lower than at Merrimack College ($11,200 vs. $21,525).
  • Merrimack College is 19.7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (about $8,882 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $45,080.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 19.7% higher at Merrimack than at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (about $8,882 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $45,080.00).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Merrimack College as at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Saint Mary's University of Minnesota students is 12% larger than aid received by Merrimack College students ($35,348 vs. $31,550).

Merrimack vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Merrimack or Saint Mary's University of Minnesota? 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 Saint Mary's University of Minnesota and Merrimack.

  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Merrimack - Test-free; Saint Mary's University of Minnesota - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Merrimack Sep 1, 2026; Saint Mary's University of Minnesota May 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Saint Mary's University of Minnesota students have a 0.19 point higher average high school GPA (3.49) than students at Merrimack (3.3).
  • Saint Mary's University of Minnesota has a higher acceptance rate (92.8%) than Merrimack (70%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.9% at Merrimack vs. 18.8% at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota.

Merrimack vs. Saint Mary's University of Minnesota Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merrimack and Saint Mary's University of Minnesota? 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 Saint Mary's University of Minnesota's (62%).
  • Graduates from Merrimack College earn a median of about $9,600 more per year than Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $48,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates have a $3,750 lower median loan debt than Merrimack graduates ($23,250 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota graduates have an estimated $39 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merrimack graduates ($240 vs. $279).
  • More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Saint Mary's University of Minnesota students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 72%)

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.