Merrimack vs. Cheyney University of Pennsylvania

Comparable Facts

Compare Merrimack College in North Andover, MA with Cheyney University of Pennsylvania in Cheyney, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Merrimack College is larger than Cheyney University of Pennsylvania based on total student enrollment (5,862 students vs. 617 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merrimack College is located in North Andover, MA (Large Suburban setting); Cheyney University of Pennsylvania is in Cheyney, PA (Large Suburban setting).
• Merrimack College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Cheyney University of Pennsylvania is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merrimack College 13:1; Cheyney University of Pennsylvania 15:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania are 48.8% lower than at Merrimack College ($11,016 vs. $21,525).
• Out-of-state tuition is 186% higher at Merrimack than at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania (about $35,092 more per year; $53,962 vs. $18,870).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merrimack College than at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania (100% vs. 96%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Merrimack College students is 156.7% larger than aid received by Cheyney University of Pennsylvania students ($31,550 vs. $12,290).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at Merrimack, open admission at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania.
• Typical fall application deadline: Merrimack Sep 1, 2026; Cheyney University of Pennsylvania Mar 31, 2027.
• Enrolled first-year students at Merrimack average a 3.3 high school GPA, 0.93 higher than at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania (2.37).

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, Merrimack College graduates have a $6,500 lower median loan debt than Cheyney University of Pennsylvania graduates ($27,000 vs. $33,500).
• Among borrowers, Merrimack graduates have an estimated $67 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Cheyney University of Pennsylvania graduates ($279 vs. $346).
• More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Cheyney University of Pennsylvania students, three years after graduation (78% vs. 19%).

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, IPEDS and College Scorecard. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.