Merrimack vs. SUNY-Potsdam

Comparable Facts

Compare Merrimack College in North Andover, MA with SUNY College at Potsdam in Potsdam, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Merrimack College is larger than SUNY-Potsdam based on total student enrollment (5,862 students vs. 2,832 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merrimack College is located in North Andover, MA (Large Suburban setting); SUNY College at Potsdam is in Potsdam, NY (Remote Town setting).
• Merrimack College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. SUNY College at Potsdam is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merrimack College 13:1; SUNY College at Potsdam 11:1.

Merrimack vs. SUNY-Potsdam Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merrimack or SUNY-Potsdam? 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 SUNY College at Potsdam than Merrimack ($13,730 vs. $38,504).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at SUNY College at Potsdam are 29% lower than at Merrimack College ($15,280 vs. $21,525).
• Merrimack College is 515.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than SUNY-Potsdam (about $45,194 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $8,768.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 188.9% higher at Merrimack than at SUNY College at Potsdam (about $35,284 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $18,678.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merrimack College than at SUNY College at Potsdam (100% vs. 93%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merrimack College students is 183% larger than aid received by SUNY College at Potsdam students ($31,550 vs. $11,147).

Merrimack vs. SUNY-Potsdam Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Merrimack or SUNY-Potsdam? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between SUNY-Potsdam and Merrimack.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Merrimack - Test-free; SUNY-Potsdam - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Merrimack Sep 1, 2026.
• Enrolled freshman Merrimack students have the same average high school GPA (3.3) as students at SUNY-Potsdam (3.3).
• SUNY-Potsdam has a higher acceptance rate (77.7%) than Merrimack (70%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.9% at Merrimack vs. 10% at SUNY-Potsdam.

Merrimack vs. SUNY-Potsdam Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merrimack and SUNY-Potsdam? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Merrimack College's six-year graduation rate (70%) is higher than SUNY College at Potsdam's (51%).
• Graduates from Merrimack College earn a median of about $18,900 more per year than SUNY-Potsdam graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $39,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, SUNY College at Potsdam graduates have a $2,000 lower median loan debt than Merrimack graduates ($25,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, SUNY-Potsdam graduates have an estimated $21 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merrimack graduates ($258 vs. $279).
• More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former SUNY-Potsdam students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 60%)

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.