Merrimack vs. University of Valley Forge

Comparable Facts

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

Merrimack College is larger than University of Valley Forge based on total student enrollment (5,862 students vs. 589 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Merrimack vs. University of Valley Forge Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Merrimack or University of Valley Forge? 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 Valley Forge than Merrimack ($27,083 vs. $38,504).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Valley Forge are 45.4% lower than at Merrimack College ($11,750 vs. $21,525).
• Merrimack College is 113.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than University of Valley Forge (about $28,722 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $25,240.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 113.8% higher at Merrimack than at University of Valley Forge (about $28,722 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $25,240.00).
• The same share of students receive grant aid at Merrimack College as at University of Valley Forge (100% vs. 100%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merrimack College students is 71.8% larger than aid received by University of Valley Forge students ($31,550 vs. $18,369).

Merrimack vs. University of Valley Forge Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Merrimack or University of Valley Forge? 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 University of Valley Forge and Merrimack.

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Merrimack - Test-free; University of Valley Forge - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Merrimack Sep 1, 2026; University of Valley Forge Aug 1, 2027.
• Accepted freshman University of Valley Forge students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.33) than students at Merrimack (3.3).
• Merrimack has a higher acceptance rate (70%) than University of Valley Forge (61.2%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.9% at Merrimack vs. 27.9% at University of Valley Forge.

Merrimack vs. University of Valley Forge Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Merrimack and University of Valley Forge? 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 Valley Forge's (53%).
• Graduates from Merrimack College earn a median of about $24,300 more per year than University of Valley Forge graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $33,700), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Valley Forge and Merrimack graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, University of Valley Forge and Merrimack graduates have the same median monthly federal student loan payment ($279 vs. $279).
• More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former University of Valley Forge 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.