Merrimack vs. Union College

Comparable Facts

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

Merrimack College is larger than Union College based on total student enrollment (5,862 students vs. 2,065 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merrimack College is located in North Andover, MA (Large Suburban setting); Union College is in Schenectady, NY (Small City setting).
• Merrimack College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Union College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merrimack College 13:1; Union College 9:1.

Merrimack vs. Union College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merrimack or Union 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 Merrimack College than Union College ($38,504 vs. $42,137).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Union College are 21% lower than at Merrimack College ($17,010 vs. $21,525).
• Union College is 27.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Merrimack (about $15,077 more per year; $69,039.00 vs. $53,962.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 27.9% higher at Union College than at Merrimack College (about $15,077 more per year; $69,039.00 vs. $53,962.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merrimack College than at Union College (100% vs. 96%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Union College students is 34.8% larger than aid received by Merrimack College students ($42,534 vs. $31,550).

Merrimack vs. Union College Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUnion College 1310/1480.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUnion College 29/33.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Merrimack - Test-free; Union College - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Merrimack Sep 1, 2026; Union College Jan 15, 2027.
• Accepted freshman Union College students have a 0.2 point higher average high school GPA (3.5) than students at Merrimack (3.3).
• Merrimack has a higher acceptance rate (70%) than Union College (43.9%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.9% at Merrimack vs. 13.9% at Union College.

Merrimack vs. Union College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merrimack and Union 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).

• Union College's six-year graduation rate (86%) is higher than Merrimack College's (70%).
• Graduates from Union College earn a median of about $16,200 more per year than Merrimack graduates about ten years after starting college ($74,200 vs. $58,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Union College and Merrimack graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Union College and Merrimack graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More Union College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Merrimack students, three years after graduation. (86% vs. 78%)

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.