Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks Merrimack College #1331 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $10,322 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 20.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Merrimack College #737 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. --- Merrimack College's composite ranking reflects strong financial outcomes for graduates, with earnings that consistently outperform expectations at comparable institutions. The institution's return on investment ranking places it among the top-performing private four-year colleges nationally.
Azimuth ranks Merrimack College #1331 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private master's university in North Andover, Massachusetts, Merrimack College enrolls roughly 3,916 undergraduates. Retention stands at 79.3% and the six-year graduation rate is 70.0%, reflecting solid completion outcomes for a regional institution. Merrimack College performs strongest on return on investment. Azimuth ranks Merrimack College #737 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $65,506, and they earn about $10,322 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Merrimack College in the 20.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. This performance reflects the institution's concentration in Business and related fields that connect directly to stable career pathways. Access and affordability anchor the institution's profile. Merrimack College enrolls 15.6% Pell-eligible students and 20.7% first-generation undergraduates, positioning it in the 25.7 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. The institution sits in the 3.9 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting a private tuition structure reshaped by need-based aid for qualifying families. Mobility outcomes place Merrimack College in the 44.1 percentile among nonprofit four-year institutions, indicating that graduates move into sustainable career positions at rates comparable to peer institutions.
Merrimack College's published cost of attendance is $70,038. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $31,710, middle-income families pay around $31,962, and higher-income families pay approximately $41,050. Azimuth ranks Merrimack College #1369 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. Merrimack College participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. The gap between published sticker price and actual net price can be substantial, particularly for lower-income families — a distinction worth understanding when comparing affordability across institutions. Families should review the institution's financial aid page to understand how their specific circumstances map to aid eligibility. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $50,540; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $65,506, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
Merrimack College is a strong fit for students interested in business, health, and applied fields who want a private college experience in MA. Its suburban campus offers proximity to Boston's job market while maintaining a smaller-college feel. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $65,506, placing Merrimack College in the 70.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $10,322 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing the institution in the 20.0 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. Those figures track MA's regional labor market and represent meaningful returns relative to the state's no-degree-equivalent earnings baseline of $37,113. The aid structure is need-based. For admitted Pell-eligible and first-generation students — 15.6% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants and 20.7% are first-generation — that structure can meaningfully close the gap between the published cost and what families actually pay. The published net price for higher-income families is $41,050. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the 70.0% admit rate makes the application process selective, and the program mix favors Business and applied fields over theoretical ones. Students whose interests align with those areas and who can navigate the application process will find strong earnings trajectories.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the Merrimack College hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
Merrimack College's published cost of attendance is $70,038. Net price by income band reflects the institution's need-based aid structure: low-income families pay approximately $31,710, middle-income families pay around $31,962, and higher-income families pay approximately $41,050.
Azimuth ranks Merrimack College #1369 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
Merrimack College participates in federal need-based aid programs, including Pell Grants and Direct Loans, alongside institutional aid. The gap between published sticker price and actual net price can be substantial, particularly for lower-income families — a distinction worth understanding when comparing affordability across institutions.
Families should review the institution's [financial aid page](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/) to understand how their specific circumstances map to aid eligibility. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $27,000, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $50,540; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures.
For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $65,506, median federal debt of $27,000 projects to a monthly payment of about $305 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of Merrimack College earn median 4-year earnings of $65,506, placing Merrimack College in the 70.2 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn about $10,322 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing Merrimack College in the 20.0 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions.
Azimuth ranks Merrimack College #737 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Merrimack College's program portfolio is anchored in business and professional fields.
Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services is the largest program with 114 graduates earning median 4-year earnings of $53,734, at 1.1x the national benchmark for the field. Business Administration enrolls 78 graduates with median 4-year earnings of $73,877, performing at 1.1x the benchmark.
Digital Marketing and Finance round out the institution's core offerings, with Communication and Media Studies delivering median 4-year earnings of $64,345 at 1.1x the benchmark [per the program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/). This concentration in Business fields reflects the institution's strategic focus on career-ready preparation and employer alignment.
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
William Jessup University Similar quality tier (#36007 ranked) | CA | 93% | $56,257 | #36007 | Compare |
Concordia University-Wisconsin Similar quality tier (#34974 ranked) | WI | 78% | $56,075 | #34974 | Compare |
Limestone University Similar quality tier (#36009 ranked) | SC | 97% | $44,999 | #36009 | Compare |
Mount Vernon Nazarene University Similar quality tier (#34972 ranked) | OH | 84% | $49,555 | #34972 | Compare |
Wartburg College Similar quality tier (#36012 ranked) | IA | 76% | $56,201 | #36012 | Compare |
Computer Science
19 graduates
Civil Engineering
23 graduates
Mechanical Engineering
20 graduates
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering
16 graduates
Biology, General
43 graduates
Merrimack College's program mix is anchored in business and professional fields, reflecting the institution's applied, career-focused identity. Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services is the largest program with 114 graduates, followed by Business Administration, Digital Marketing, Finance, and Communication and Media Studies.
Business represents 28% of degrees, with Education and Engineering providing additional breadth across 32 total programs. The strongest earnings outcomes cluster in applied business and professional fields.
Business Administration leads with median earnings four years after enrollment of $73,877 from 78 graduates, followed by Criminal Justice with median earnings of $69,615 from 66 graduates. Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General delivers median earnings of $68,209, while Communication and Media Studies and Psychology, General round out the earnings leaders with median earnings of $64,345 and $62,567 respectively.
These programs reflect direct-to-workforce pathways where graduates enter professional roles immediately after completion. Merrimack College graduates across these dominant fields enter stable, in-demand career sectors aligned with regional employer networks in the Boston-North Shore corridor.
The concentration in business and professional disciplines positions students for early-career earnings and long-term career mobility in finance, management, and applied professional roles. The [supply and demand for college graduates](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these program families align with labor-market demand in the Northeast.
