Merrimack vs. UMass Dartmouth

Comparable Facts

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

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is larger than Merrimack based on total student enrollment (7,968 students vs. 5,862 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merrimack College is located in North Andover, MA (Large Suburban setting); University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is in North Dartmouth, MA (Midsize Suburban setting).
• Merrimack College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. University of Massachusetts Dartmouth is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merrimack College 13:1; University of Massachusetts Dartmouth 16:1.

Merrimack vs. UMass Dartmouth Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merrimack or UMass Dartmouth? 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 University of Massachusetts Dartmouth than Merrimack ($21,094 vs. $38,504).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth are 13.7% lower than at Merrimack College ($18,566 vs. $21,525).
• Merrimack College is 245.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than UMass Dartmouth (about $38,350 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $15,612.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 65.7% higher at Merrimack than at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (about $21,395 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $32,567.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merrimack College than at University of Massachusetts Dartmouth (100% vs. 96%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merrimack College students is 170.6% larger than aid received by University of Massachusetts Dartmouth students ($31,550 vs. $11,658).

Merrimack vs. UMass Dartmouth Admissions comparison

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

• Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Massachusetts Dartmouth 1050/1270.
• Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted studentsUniversity of Massachusetts Dartmouth 26/30.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Merrimack - Test-free; UMass Dartmouth - Test optional.
• Typical fall application deadline: Merrimack Sep 1, 2026.
• Accepted freshman UMass Dartmouth students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.37) than students at Merrimack (3.3).
• UMass Dartmouth has a higher acceptance rate (90.6%) than Merrimack (70%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.9% at Merrimack vs. 13.5% at UMass Dartmouth.

Merrimack vs. UMass Dartmouth Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merrimack and UMass Dartmouth? 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 University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's (48%).
• Graduates from Merrimack College earn a median of about $9,000 more per year than UMass Dartmouth graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $49,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth graduates have a $1,240 lower median loan debt than Merrimack graduates ($25,760 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, UMass Dartmouth graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merrimack graduates ($266 vs. $279).
• More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former UMass Dartmouth students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 67%)

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.