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Endicott College SPU Stonehill College Bryant University Assumption College Roger Williams University UW-Seattle Quinnipiac Seattle U Whitworth University SHU Saint Anselm College| Merrimack College | Pacific Lutheran University | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Merrimack | PLU | ||
| Location | North Andover, MA | Tacoma, WA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 5,505 | 2,633 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #311 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | Roman Catholic | Evangelical Lutheran Church | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | merrimack.edu | plu.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Merrimack | PLU | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $45,815 | $49,472 | ||
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| Tuition (Out of State) | $45,815 | $49,472 | ||
| Room & Board | $18,295 | $11,826 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $37,296 | $24,825 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $27,729 | $36,435 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 97% | 99% |
Admission |
Merrimack | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 13,175 | 3,334 | ||
| Admitted | 9,833 | 2,964 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74.6% | 88.9% | ||
| Enrolled % | 12% | 17.7% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.3 | 3.71 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | A- | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Very High | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | 27/30 | |||
| SAT Range | 1253/1423 | |||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) | ||
| Application Deadline | Sep 1, 2023 | Aug 15, 2024 |
Academics |
Merrimack | PLU | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 11:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Merrimack | PLU | ||
| Graduation Rate | 70% | 66% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $58,000 | $52,300 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 78% | 74% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $25,800 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $266 |
Diversity |
Merrimack | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 43% | 36% | ||
| % Women | 57% | 64% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 73% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 3% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 8% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 1% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 1% | 7% | ||
| % International | 5% | 4% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 11% | 1% |
Students |
Merrimack | PLU | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 66% | 74% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 31% | 22% | ||
Campus |
Merrimack | PLU | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Merrimack College is larger than than PLU based on total student enrollment (5,505 students vs. 2,633 students)
Merrimack vs. PLU Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Merrimack or PLU?
- Pacific Lutheran University is 8% more expensive to attend than Merrimack for in-state tuition ($49,472.00 vs. $45,815.00)
- Out of state tuition is 8% higher at PLU than Merrimack College ($49,472.00 vs. $45,815.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Pacific Lutheran University than Merrimack ($24,825 vs. $37,296)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pacific Lutheran University are 54.7% lower than costs at Merrimack College ($11,826 vs. $18,295)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Pacific Lutheran University than Merrimack College (99% vs. 97%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Pacific Lutheran University students is 31.4% larger than aid received Merrimack College ($36,435 vs. $27,729)
Merrimack vs. PLU Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Merrimack or PLU? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PLU or Merrimack .
- Accepted freshman PLU students have a 0.41 point higher average high school GPA (3.71) than students at Merrimack (3.3)
- PLU has a higher acceptance rate (88.9%) than Merrimack (74.6%)
Merrimack vs. PLU Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Merrimack or PLU? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between PLU and Merrimack.
- The graduation rate at Merrimack is higher than Pacific Lutheran University (70% vs. 66%)
- Graduates from Merrimack College earn on average $5,700 more per year than PLU graduates after ten years. ($58,000 vs. $52,300)
- Pacific Lutheran University students graduate with a $1,200 lower median federal student loan debt than Merrimack graduates. ($25,800 vs. $27,000)
- PLU graduates are paying $13 less per month on federal student loans than Merrimack graduates. ($266 vs. $279)
- More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PLU students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 74%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/