Merrimack vs. TESC

Deciding between Merrimack College and Thomas Edison State 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

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Merrimack North Andover, MA
  • TESC Trenton, NJ
  • Setting
  • Merrimack Large Suburban
  • TESC Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Merrimack 5,862
  • TESC 7,544
  • Type
  • Merrimack Private 4 Year
  • TESC Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Merrimack
  • TESC
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Merrimack Roman Catholic
  • TESC -
  • Status
  • Merrimack Non-profit
  • TESC Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Merrimack
  • TESC

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Merrimack $53,962
  • TESC $6,838
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Merrimack $53,962
  • TESC $8,856
  • Room & Board
  • Merrimack $21,525
  • TESC $5,170
  • Average Net Price
  • Merrimack $38,504
  • TESC -
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Merrimack $31,550
  • TESC $0
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Merrimack 100%
  • TESC 0%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Merrimack 14,070
  • TESC -
  • Admitted
  • Merrimack 9,852
  • TESC -
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Merrimack 70%
  • TESC Open
  • Enrolled
  • Merrimack 9.9%
  • TESC Open
  • Typical SAT score
  • Merrimack
  • TESC
  • Typical ACT score
  • Merrimack
  • TESC
  • Average High School GPA
  • Merrimack 3.3
  • TESC -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Merrimack B+
  • TESC -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Merrimack Unavailable
  • TESC Unavailable
  • Applicant Competition
  • Merrimack Low
  • TESC
  • ACT Range
  • Merrimack
  • TESC
  • SAT Range
  • Merrimack
  • TESC
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Merrimack Test-free
  • TESC Open admission
  • Application Deadline
  • Merrimack Sep 1, 2026
  • TESC

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Merrimack 13:1
  • TESC 20:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Merrimack
    • Business (32%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Biology (6%)
  • TESC
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (27%)
    • General Studies (24%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Business (14%)
    • Health Professions (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Merrimack 70%
  • TESC -
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Merrimack $58,000
  • TESC $57,800
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Merrimack 78%
  • TESC 53%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Merrimack $27,000
  • TESC $10,750
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Merrimack $279
  • TESC $111

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Merrimack 43%
  • TESC 59%
  • % Women
  • Merrimack 57%
  • TESC 41%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Merrimack Low
  • TESC High
  • HBCU
  • Merrimack No
  • TESC No
  • % White
  • Merrimack 73%
  • TESC 52%
  • % Asian
  • Merrimack 1%
  • TESC 4%
  • % Black
  • Merrimack 3%
  • TESC 15%
  • % Hispanic
  • Merrimack 5%
  • TESC 9%
  • % Native American
  • Merrimack 0%
  • TESC 1%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Merrimack 0%
  • TESC 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Merrimack 1%
  • TESC 2%
  • % International
  • Merrimack 5%
  • TESC 1%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Merrimack 11%
  • TESC 15%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Merrimack 68%
  • TESC -
  • % Out-of-State
  • Merrimack 30%
  • TESC -

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Merrimack College in North Andover, MA with Thomas Edison State University in Trenton, NJ on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Thomas Edison State University is larger than Merrimack based on total student enrollment (7,544 students vs. 5,862 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Merrimack College is located in North Andover, MA (Large Suburban setting); Thomas Edison State University is in Trenton, NJ (Small City setting).
  • Merrimack College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Thomas Edison State University is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Merrimack College 13:1; Thomas Edison State University 20:1.

Merrimack vs. TESC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merrimack or TESC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Thomas Edison State University are 76% lower than at Merrimack College ($5,170 vs. $21,525).
  • Merrimack College is 689.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than TESC (about $47,124 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $6,838.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 509.3% higher at Merrimack than at Thomas Edison State University (about $45,106 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $8,856.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merrimack College than at Thomas Edison State University (100% vs. 0%).

Merrimack vs. TESC Admissions comparison

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

  • Thomas Edison State University reports an open admissions policy.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Merrimack - Test-free; TESC - Open admission.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Merrimack Sep 1, 2026.

Merrimack vs. TESC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merrimack and TESC? 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).

  • Graduates from Merrimack College earn a median of about $200 more per year than TESC graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $57,800), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Thomas Edison State University graduates have a $16,250 lower median loan debt than Merrimack graduates ($10,750 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, TESC graduates have an estimated $168 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merrimack graduates ($111 vs. $279).
  • More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former TESC students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 53%)

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.