Merrimack vs. CUNY Graduate Center

Comparable Facts

Compare Merrimack College in North Andover, MA with CUNY Graduate School and University Center in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

CUNY Graduate School and University Center is larger than Merrimack based on total student enrollment (9,536 students vs. 5,862 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Merrimack College is located in North Andover, MA (Large Suburban setting); CUNY Graduate School and University Center is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
• Merrimack College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. CUNY Graduate School and University Center is a public, non-profit 4-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Merrimack College 13:1; CUNY Graduate School and University Center 13:1.

Cost details

• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Merrimack College are 3.3% lower than at CUNY Graduate School and University Center ($21,525 vs. $22,260).
• Out-of-state tuition is 255.4% higher at Merrimack than at CUNY Graduate School and University Center (about $38,777 more per year; $53,962 vs. $15,185).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Merrimack College than at CUNY Graduate School and University Center (100% vs. 0%).

Admissions details

• SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both Merrimack and CUNY Graduate Center.
• Typical fall application deadline: Merrimack Sep 1, 2026.
• The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.9% at Merrimack vs. 12% at CUNY Graduate Center.

Loans and repayment

• Among federal student loan borrowers, CUNY Graduate School and University Center graduates have a $17,660 lower median loan debt than Merrimack graduates ($9,340 vs. $27,000).
• Among borrowers, CUNY Graduate Center graduates have an estimated $183 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merrimack graduates ($96 vs. $279).
• More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former CUNY Graduate Center students, three years after graduation (78% vs. 52%).

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