Merrimack vs. Salem State University

Should I go to Merrimack College or Salem State University? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Merrimack or Salem State University is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Merrimack College vs. Salem State University comparison
Merrimack College Salem State University College 3 College 4
Merrimack College Salem State University
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Overview

Merrimack Salem State University
Location North Andover, MA Salem, MA
Setting Large Suburban Large Suburban
Enrollment 5,505 6,539
Type Private 4 Year Public 4 Year
National Ranking #733
Religious Affiliation Roman Catholic - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website merrimack.edu salemstate.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Merrimack Salem State University
Tuition (In State) $45,815 $910
Tuition (Out of State) $45,815 $7,050
Room & Board $18,295 $14,954
Avg Net Price $37,296 $19,277
Avg Grant Aid $27,729 $8,562
% Receiving Grant Aid 97% 99%

Admission

Merrimack Salem State University
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 13,175 5,093
Admitted 9,833 4,719
Acceptance Rate 74.6% 92.7%
Enrolled % 12% 18.3%
Avg High School GPA 3.3 3.17
Typical High School Grades B+ B
Admissions Standards Unavailable Moderate
Applicant Competition
ACT Range
SAT Range 986/1210
Submit Test Scores Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Sep 1, 2024 Jun 1, 2025

Academics

Merrimack Salem State University
Student to Faculty Ratio 13:1 12:1
Popular Majors
  • Business (32%)
  • Social Sciences (10%)
  • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Biology (6%)
  • Business (23%)
  • Health Professions (17%)
  • Education (9%)
  • Psychology (7%)
  • Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, Firefighting (7%)

Outcomes

Merrimack Salem State University
Graduation Rate 70% 42%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $58,000 $44,400
Making Student Loan Payments 78% 63%
Median Student Loan Debt $27,000 $24,000
Median Loan Payment $279 $248

Diversity

Merrimack Salem State University
% Men 43% 31%
% Women 57% 69%
Racial Diversity Low Medium
HBCU No No
% White 73% 68%
% Black 3% 9%
% Hispanic 5% 12%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 1% 3%
% International 5% 3%
% Unknown Race 11% 2%

Students

Merrimack Salem State University
% In-State 66% 90%
% Out-of-State 31% 8%

Campus

Merrimack Salem State University
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No No
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No Yes
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Salem State University is larger than than Merrimack based on total student enrollment (6,539 students vs. 5,505 students)

Merrimack vs. Salem State University Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merrimack or Salem State University?

  • Merrimack College is 4,934.6% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($45,815.00 vs. $910.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 549.9% higher at Merrimack than Salem State University ($45,815.00 vs. $7,050.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Salem State University than Merrimack ($19,277 vs. $37,296)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Salem State University are 22.3% lower than costs at Merrimack College ($14,954 vs. $18,295)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than Merrimack College (99% vs. 97%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Merrimack College students is 223.9% larger than aid received Salem State University ($27,729 vs. $8,562)

Merrimack vs. Salem State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Merrimack or Salem State University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Salem State University or Merrimack .

  • Accepted freshman Merrimack students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Salem State University (3.17)
  • Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than Merrimack (74.6%)

Merrimack vs. Salem State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Merrimack or Salem State University? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Salem State University and Merrimack.

  • The graduation rate at Merrimack is higher than Salem State University (70% vs. 42%)
  • Graduates from Merrimack College earn on average $13,600 more per year than Salem State University graduates after ten years. ($58,000 vs. $44,400)
  • Salem State University students graduate with a $3,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Merrimack graduates. ($24,000 vs. $27,000)
  • Salem State University graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than Merrimack graduates. ($248 vs. $279)
  • More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem State University students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 63%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/