Paier College vs. Merrimack

Comparable Facts

Compare Paier College in Bridgeport, CT with Merrimack College in North Andover, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Merrimack College is larger than Paier College based on total student enrollment (5,862 students vs. 203 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Paier College is located in Bridgeport, CT (Large Suburban setting); Merrimack College is in North Andover, MA (Large Suburban setting).
• Paier College is a private, for-profit 4-year institution. Merrimack College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Paier College 9:1; Merrimack College 13:1.

Paier College vs. Merrimack Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Paier College or Merrimack? 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 Paier College are 16.4% lower than at Merrimack College ($18,000 vs. $21,525).
• Merrimack College is 127.1% more expensive for in-state tuition than Paier College (about $30,202 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $23,760.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 127.1% higher at Merrimack than at Paier College (about $30,202 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $23,760.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merrimack College than at Paier College (100% vs. 0%).

Paier College vs. Merrimack Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Paier College or Merrimack? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Merrimack and Paier College.

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

Paier College vs. Merrimack Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Paier College and Merrimack? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Merrimack College's six-year graduation rate (70%) is higher than Paier College's (56%).
• Graduates from Merrimack College earn a median of about $23,800 more per year than Paier College graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $34,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Paier College graduates have a $1,000 lower median loan debt than Merrimack graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, Paier College graduates have an estimated $11 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merrimack graduates ($268 vs. $279).
• More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Paier College students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 59%)

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.