Merrimack vs. St. Thomas Aquinas College

Comparable Facts

Compare Merrimack College in North Andover, MA with St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkill, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Merrimack College is larger than St. Thomas Aquinas College based on total student enrollment (5,862 students vs. 2,037 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merrimack College is located in North Andover, MA (Large Suburban setting); St. Thomas Aquinas College is in Sparkill, NY (Large Suburban setting).
• Merrimack College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. St. Thomas Aquinas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merrimack College 13:1; St. Thomas Aquinas College 16:1.

Merrimack vs. St. Thomas Aquinas College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merrimack or St. Thomas Aquinas 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 St. Thomas Aquinas College than Merrimack ($21,187 vs. $38,504).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at St. Thomas Aquinas College are 16% lower than at Merrimack College ($18,080 vs. $21,525).
• Merrimack College is 36.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than St. Thomas Aquinas College (about $14,512 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $39,450.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 36.8% higher at Merrimack than at St. Thomas Aquinas College (about $14,512 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $39,450.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Merrimack College as at St. Thomas Aquinas College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merrimack College students is 1% larger than aid received by St. Thomas Aquinas College students ($31,550 vs. $31,233).

Merrimack vs. St. Thomas Aquinas College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Merrimack or St. Thomas Aquinas 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 St. Thomas Aquinas College and Merrimack.

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsSt. Thomas Aquinas College 880/1085.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Merrimack - Test-free; St. Thomas Aquinas College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Merrimack Sep 1, 2026; St. Thomas Aquinas College May 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Merrimack students have a 0.3 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at St. Thomas Aquinas College (3.0).
• St. Thomas Aquinas College has a higher acceptance rate (93%) than Merrimack (70%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.9% at Merrimack vs. 11.8% at St. Thomas Aquinas College.

Merrimack vs. St. Thomas Aquinas College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merrimack and St. Thomas Aquinas 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 St. Thomas Aquinas College's (58%).
• Graduates from Merrimack College earn a median of about $10,000 more per year than St. Thomas Aquinas College graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $48,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, St. Thomas Aquinas College graduates have a $4,500 lower median loan debt than Merrimack graduates ($22,500 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, St. Thomas Aquinas College graduates have an estimated $47 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merrimack graduates ($232 vs. $279).
• More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former St. Thomas Aquinas College students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 71%)

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.