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Endicott College Stonehill College Bryant University Assumption College Roger Williams University Quinnipiac SHU Saint Anselm College UMass Dartmouth Curry College Salve Regina University Southern New Hampshire University| Merrimack College | Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts | College 3 | College 4 | |
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| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Merrimack | PAFA | ||
| Location | North Andover, MA | Philadelphia, PA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large City | ||
| Enrollment | 5,505 | 172 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Private 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | ||||
| Religious Affiliation | Roman Catholic | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | merrimack.edu | pafa.org | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Merrimack | PAFA | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $45,815 | $40,500 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $45,815 | $40,500 | ||
| Room & Board | $18,295 | $17,512 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $37,296 | $48,191 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $27,729 | $16,087 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 97% | 80% |
Admission |
Merrimack | PAFA | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 13,175 | 183 | ||
| Admitted | 9,833 | 167 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74.6% | 91.3% | ||
| Enrolled % | 12% | 11.4% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.3 | - | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | - | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Unavailable | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | ||||
| SAT Range | ||||
| Submit Test Scores | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | Not considered for admission, even if submitted (Test Blind) | ||
| Application Deadline | Sep 1, 2023 | Feb 1, 2024 |
Academics |
Merrimack | PAFA | ||
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| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 5:1 | ||
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Outcomes |
Merrimack | PAFA | ||
| Graduation Rate | 70% | 73% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $58,000 | $22,000 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 78% | 63% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $26,500 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $274 |
Diversity |
Merrimack | PAFA | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 43% | 31% | ||
| % Women | 57% | 69% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 73% | 61% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 5% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 7% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 1% | 6% | ||
| % International | 5% | 6% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 11% | 7% |
Students |
Merrimack | PAFA | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 66% | 53% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 31% | 42% | ||
Campus |
Merrimack | PAFA | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | No | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | No | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | No | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Merrimack College is larger than than PAFA based on total student enrollment (5,505 students vs. 172 students)
Merrimack vs. PAFA Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Merrimack or PAFA?
- Merrimack College is 13.1% more expensive to attend than PAFA for in-state tuition ($45,815.00 vs. $40,500.00)
- Out of state tuition is 13.1% higher at Merrimack than Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts ($45,815.00 vs. $40,500.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Merrimack College than PAFA ($37,296 vs. $48,191)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts are 4.5% lower than costs at Merrimack College ($17,512 vs. $18,295)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Merrimack College than Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (97% vs. 80%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Merrimack College students is 72.4% larger than aid received Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts ($27,729 vs. $16,087)
Merrimack vs. PAFA Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Merrimack or PAFA? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between PAFA or Merrimack .
- PAFA has a higher acceptance rate (91.3%) than Merrimack (74.6%)
Merrimack vs. PAFA Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Merrimack or PAFA? 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 PAFA and Merrimack.
- The graduation rate at PAFA is higher than Merrimack College (73% vs. 70%)
- Graduates from Merrimack College earn on average $36,000 more per year than PAFA graduates after ten years. ($58,000 vs. $22,000)
- Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts students graduate with a $500 lower median federal student loan debt than Merrimack graduates. ($26,500 vs. $27,000)
- PAFA graduates are paying $5 less per month on federal student loans than Merrimack graduates. ($274 vs. $279)
- More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former PAFA students, three years after graduation. (78% vs. 63%)
Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/