Merrimack vs. Sterling College

Comparable Facts

Compare Merrimack College in North Andover, MA with Sterling College in Craftsbury Common, VT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Merrimack College is larger than Sterling College based on total student enrollment (5,862 students vs. 57 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merrimack College is located in North Andover, MA (Large Suburban setting); Sterling College is in Craftsbury Common, VT (Remote Rural setting).
• Merrimack College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Sterling College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merrimack College 13:1; Sterling College 7:1.

Merrimack vs. Sterling College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merrimack or Sterling 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 Sterling College than Merrimack ($21,854 vs. $38,504).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 49.1% lower than at Merrimack College ($10,950 vs. $21,525).
• Merrimack College is 32.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Sterling College (about $13,202 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $40,760.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 32.4% higher at Merrimack than at Sterling College (about $13,202 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $40,760.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Merrimack College as at Sterling College (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Sterling College students is 3.2% larger than aid received by Merrimack College students ($32,556 vs. $31,550).

Merrimack vs. Sterling College Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Merrimack - Test-free; Sterling College - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Merrimack Sep 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman Merrimack students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Sterling College (3.1).
• Merrimack has a higher acceptance rate (70%) than Sterling College (66.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.9% at Merrimack vs. 10.9% at Sterling College.

Merrimack vs. Sterling College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merrimack and Sterling 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 Sterling College's (50%).
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Sterling College graduates have a $9,965 lower median loan debt than Merrimack graduates ($17,035 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Sterling College graduates have an estimated $103 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merrimack graduates ($176 vs. $279).
• More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sterling College students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 74%)

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.