Merrimack vs. Temple

Deciding between Merrimack College and Temple University? 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
Temple University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Merrimack North Andover, MA
  • Temple Philadelphia, PA
  • Setting
  • Merrimack Large Suburban
  • Temple Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Merrimack 5,862
  • Temple 29,640
  • Type
  • Merrimack Private 4 Year
  • Temple Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Merrimack
  • Temple
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Merrimack Roman Catholic
  • Temple -
  • Status
  • Merrimack Non-profit
  • Temple Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Merrimack
  • Temple

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Merrimack $53,962
  • Temple $23,011
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Merrimack $53,962
  • Temple $38,958
  • Room & Board
  • Merrimack $21,525
  • Temple $17,690
  • Average Net Price
  • Merrimack $38,504
  • Temple $28,088
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Merrimack $31,550
  • Temple $14,837
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Merrimack 100%
  • Temple 89%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Merrimack 14,070
  • Temple 39,754
  • Admitted
  • Merrimack 9,852
  • Temple 31,966
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Merrimack 70%
  • Temple 80.4%
  • Enrolled
  • Merrimack 9.9%
  • Temple 15.2%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Merrimack
  • Temple
  • Typical ACT score
  • Merrimack
  • Temple
  • Average High School GPA
  • Merrimack 3.3
  • Temple 3.46
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Merrimack B+
  • Temple B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Merrimack Unavailable
  • Temple Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Merrimack Low
  • Temple
  • ACT Range
  • Merrimack
  • Temple
  • SAT Range
  • Merrimack
  • Temple
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Merrimack Test-free
  • Temple Test-free
  • Application Deadline
  • Merrimack Sep 1, 2026
  • Temple Feb 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Merrimack 13:1
  • Temple 12:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Merrimack
    • Business (32%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Biology (6%)
  • Temple
    • Business (23%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (10%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Social Sciences (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Merrimack 70%
  • Temple 68%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Merrimack $58,000
  • Temple $56,300
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Merrimack 78%
  • Temple 69%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Merrimack $27,000
  • Temple $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Merrimack $279
  • Temple $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Merrimack 43%
  • Temple 43%
  • % Women
  • Merrimack 57%
  • Temple 57%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Merrimack Low
  • Temple High
  • HBCU
  • Merrimack No
  • Temple No
  • % White
  • Merrimack 73%
  • Temple 56%
  • % Asian
  • Merrimack 1%
  • Temple 11%
  • % Black
  • Merrimack 3%
  • Temple 13%
  • % Hispanic
  • Merrimack 5%
  • Temple 6%
  • % Native American
  • Merrimack 0%
  • Temple 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Merrimack 0%
  • Temple 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Merrimack 1%
  • Temple 3%
  • % International
  • Merrimack 5%
  • Temple 6%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Merrimack 11%
  • Temple 5%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Merrimack 68%
  • Temple 60%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Merrimack 30%
  • Temple 37%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Merrimack Yes
  • Temple Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Merrimack No
  • Temple No
  • Meal Plan
  • Merrimack Yes
  • Temple Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Merrimack No
  • Temple Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Merrimack No
  • Temple No

Comparable Facts

Compare Merrimack College in North Andover, MA with Temple University in Philadelphia, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Temple University is larger than Merrimack based on total student enrollment (29,640 students vs. 5,862 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Merrimack College is located in North Andover, MA (Large Suburban setting); Temple University is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
  • Merrimack College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Temple University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Merrimack College 13:1; Temple University 12:1.

Merrimack vs. Temple Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merrimack or Temple? 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 Temple University than Merrimack ($28,088 vs. $38,504).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Temple University are 17.8% lower than at Merrimack College ($17,690 vs. $21,525).
  • Merrimack College is 134.5% more expensive for in-state tuition than Temple (about $30,951 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $23,011.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 38.5% higher at Merrimack than at Temple University (about $15,004 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $38,958.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merrimack College than at Temple University (100% vs. 89%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Merrimack College students is 112.6% larger than aid received by Temple University students ($31,550 vs. $14,837).

Merrimack vs. Temple Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Merrimack or Temple? 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 Temple and Merrimack.

  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Merrimack - Test-free; Temple - Test-free.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Merrimack Sep 1, 2026; Temple Feb 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Temple students have a 0.16 point higher average high school GPA (3.46) than students at Merrimack (3.3).
  • Temple has a higher acceptance rate (80.4%) than Merrimack (70%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.9% at Merrimack vs. 15.2% at Temple.

Merrimack vs. Temple Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merrimack and Temple? 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 Temple University's (68%).
  • Graduates from Merrimack College earn a median of about $1,700 more per year than Temple graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $56,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Temple University graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Merrimack graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Temple graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merrimack graduates ($268 vs. $279).
  • More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Temple students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 69%)

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.