Students at Merrimack College achieve earnings that far exceed what similar students earn at comparable institutions, reflecting one of the strongest financial advantages among private colleges nationwide.
Graduates consistently reach top-tier earnings levels that place the college among the most effective institutions for long-term career outcomes.
Merrimack College delivers exceptional long-term value for students who can afford the investment, ranking in the top 10% nationally for earnings outcomes among all colleges and universities. Located in North Andover, Massachusetts, this private nonprofit institution combines the personalized attention of a medium-sized college with remarkably strong financial returns that rival much larger research universities.
What makes Merrimack distinctive is how consistently its graduates outperform earnings expectations. Students earn about $14,640 more than similar graduates at comparable institutions, placing the college in the top tier nationally for earnings beyond expectations. Ten years after enrollment, typical graduates earn $75,584, with many achieving even stronger outcomes in business, psychology, and related professional fields.
As a "Selective Achievers" institution, Merrimack serves a more affluent student population—only about 15% receive Pell Grants—but delivers outstanding mobility outcomes for the low-income students it does enroll. The college represents a premium option for families who prioritize strong career outcomes and are willing to invest significantly in their student's education to achieve those results.
Merrimack College's program portfolio reflects a strategic focus on career-oriented fields that lead directly to stable, well-paying employment. Business Administration represents the college's flagship program, graduating 79 students annually with strong aggregate returns and early-career earnings around $44,327. The program's emphasis on practical skills and employer connections helps explain why business graduates often see substantial salary growth in the years following graduation.
Psychology emerges as another standout field, with 48 graduates earning about $36,141 early in their careers. The college's psychology program benefits from strong connections to the greater Boston area's healthcare, counseling, and human resources sectors, providing graduates with diverse career pathways and advancement opportunities. Education majors, while earning more modest starting salaries around $29,685, still achieve competitive outcomes that reflect Merrimack's commitment to preparing effective teachers and educational leaders.
What distinguishes Merrimack's approach is how consistently programs across different fields prepare students for career success. Even the college's largest program, Adult Development and Aging with 120 graduates, maintains focus on practical applications and professional preparation. This career-oriented philosophy, combined with the college's location near Boston's diverse job market, helps explain why graduates across all majors achieve such strong long-term earnings outcomes.
Merrimack College graduates achieve exceptionally strong long-term earnings that place the institution among the top performers nationally. Ten years after enrollment, typical graduates earn $75,584, ranking in the top 10% of all colleges for earnings outcomes. Even more impressive is how much graduates outperform expectations—they earn about $14,640 more than similar students at comparable institutions, reflecting one of the strongest earnings advantages we track among private colleges.
The college's career-focused approach shows up clearly in program-level outcomes. Business Administration graduates, representing the largest cohort with strong aggregate returns, earn around $44,327 early in their careers and often see substantial growth over time. Psychology majors, another popular field, start at about $36,141 and benefit from the college's strong alumni networks in counseling, human resources, and related professional services. Even traditionally lower-earning fields like Education show competitive outcomes at $29,685, reflecting Merrimack's emphasis on practical career preparation and employer connections.
The college's location in the greater Boston area provides graduates access to one of the nation's strongest job markets, where earnings potential continues to grow throughout the career. With over 1,500 graduates earning more than $75,000 annually, Merrimack demonstrates consistent ability to launch students into well-paying, stable careers across multiple industries.
Merrimack College requires a significant financial investment, with net prices that reflect its positioning as a premium private institution. Low-income families pay about $27,376 annually, middle-income families see costs around $32,926, and higher-income families face net prices of approximately $41,477. These figures place Merrimack in the bottom 5% nationally for affordability, making it accessible primarily to families with substantial financial resources.
The college's aid strategy focuses on merit-based support rather than need-based assistance, which explains the relatively high net prices across all income levels. However, for families who can manage the upfront investment, the long-term financial returns often justify the costs. With graduates earning a median of $75,584 ten years out and showing strong earnings growth trajectories, many families find that the premium they pay translates into meaningful career advantages.
What makes the investment more manageable is how well Merrimack graduates handle their debt obligations. The college maintains a 0% federal loan default rate, and loan repayment patterns show borrowers paying down balances faster than national averages. This suggests that while the initial costs are high, graduates typically achieve the financial stability needed to manage their educational investments successfully.
Merrimack College Hub Overview
Executive summary with admissions, cost, outcomes, and program analysis
