Thomas College vs. Merrimack

Comparable Facts

Compare Thomas College in Waterville, ME 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 Thomas College based on total student enrollment (5,862 students vs. 1,635 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Thomas College is located in Waterville, ME (Rural Fringe setting); Merrimack College is in North Andover, MA (Large Suburban setting).
• Thomas College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Merrimack College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Thomas College 20:1; Merrimack College 13:1.

Thomas College vs. Merrimack Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Thomas College or Merrimack? 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 Thomas College than Merrimack ($19,126 vs. $38,504).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Thomas College are 34.5% lower than at Merrimack College ($14,090 vs. $21,525).
• Merrimack College is 69.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than Thomas College (about $22,138 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $31,824.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 69.6% higher at Merrimack than at Thomas College (about $22,138 more per year; $53,962.00 vs. $31,824.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merrimack College than at Thomas College (100% vs. 98%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merrimack College students is 11.8% larger than aid received by Thomas College students ($31,550 vs. $28,212).

Thomas College vs. Merrimack Admissions comparison

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

• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Thomas College - Test-free; Merrimack - Test-free.
• Typical fall application deadline: Merrimack Sep 1, 2026.
• Thomas College has a higher acceptance rate (96.3%) than Merrimack (70%).
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 16.1% at Thomas College vs. 9.9% at Merrimack.

Thomas College vs. Merrimack Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Thomas College and Merrimack? 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 Thomas College's (45%).
• Graduates from Merrimack College earn a median of about $17,000 more per year than Thomas College graduates about ten years after starting college ($58,000 vs. $41,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Merrimack College and Thomas College graduates have the same median loan debt ($27,000 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers in the federal data, Merrimack College and Thomas College 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 Thomas College 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.