Merrimack vs. Walnut Hill College

Comparable Facts

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

Merrimack College is larger than Walnut Hill College based on total student enrollment (5,862 students vs. 175 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merrimack College is located in North Andover, MA (Large Suburban setting); Walnut Hill College is in Philadelphia, PA (Large City setting).
• Merrimack College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Walnut Hill College is a private, for-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merrimack College 13:1; Walnut Hill College 20:1.

Merrimack vs. Walnut Hill College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merrimack or Walnut Hill 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 Walnut Hill College than Merrimack ($26,675 vs. $38,504).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Walnut Hill College are 43.8% lower than at Merrimack College ($12,100 vs. $21,525).
• Merrimack College is 82.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Walnut Hill College (about $24,463 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $29,499.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 82.9% higher at Merrimack than at Walnut Hill College (about $24,463 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $29,499.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merrimack College than at Walnut Hill College (100% vs. 81%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merrimack College students is 221.1% larger than aid received by Walnut Hill College students ($31,550 vs. $9,827).

Merrimack vs. Walnut Hill College Admissions comparison

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

• Walnut Hill College reports an open admissions policy.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Merrimack - Test-free; Walnut Hill College - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: Merrimack Sep 1, 2026.
• Merrimack has a higher acceptance rate (70%) than Walnut Hill College (42.7%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.9% at Merrimack vs. 52.3% at Walnut Hill College.

Merrimack vs. Walnut Hill College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merrimack and Walnut Hill 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 Walnut Hill College's (21%).
• Graduates from Merrimack College earn a median of about $20,600 more per year than Walnut Hill College graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $37,400), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Walnut Hill College graduates have a $7,500 lower median loan debt than Merrimack graduates ($19,500 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Walnut Hill College graduates have an estimated $78 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merrimack graduates ($201 vs. $279).
• More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Walnut Hill College students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 56%)

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.