Add a college to compare up to four schools
Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison.
Bridgewater State Endicott College Fitchburg State Framingham State University Stonehill College Westfield State University Bryant University Assumption College Roger Williams University Quinnipiac University of Massachusetts-Boston SHU| Merrimack College | Salem State University | College 3 | College 4 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
|||
| Remove | Remove | +Add | +Add | |
Overview |
Merrimack | Salem State University | ||
| Location | North Andover, MA | Salem, MA | ||
| Setting | Large Suburban | Large Suburban | ||
| Enrollment | 5,505 | 6,539 | ||
| Type | Private 4 Year | Public 4 Year | ||
| National Ranking | #733 | |||
| Religious Affiliation | Roman Catholic | - | - | - |
| Status | Non-profit | Non-profit | ||
| Website | merrimack.edu | salemstate.edu | ||
| Team Colors |
Costs |
Merrimack | Salem State University | ||
| Tuition (In State) | $45,815 | $910 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition (Out of State) | $45,815 | $7,050 | ||
| Room & Board | $18,295 | $14,954 | ||
| Avg Net Price | $37,296 | $19,277 | ||
| Avg Grant Aid | $27,729 | $8,562 | ||
| % Receiving Grant Aid | 97% | 99% |
Admission |
Merrimack | Salem State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Admission Chances | Calculate | Calculate | ||
| Applied | 13,175 | 5,093 | ||
| Admitted | 9,833 | 4,719 | ||
| Acceptance Rate | 74.6% | 92.7% | ||
| Enrolled % | 12% | 18.3% | ||
| Avg High School GPA | 3.3 | 3.17 | ||
| Typical High School Grades | B+ | B | ||
| Admissions Standards | Unavailable | Moderate | ||
| Applicant Competition | ||||
| ACT Range | ||||
| SAT Range | 986/1210 | |||
| 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 | Jun 1, 2024 |
Academics |
Merrimack | Salem State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student to Faculty Ratio | 13:1 | 12:1 | ||
| Popular Majors |
|
|
||
Outcomes |
Merrimack | Salem State University | ||
| Graduation Rate | 70% | 42% | ||
| Median Earnings (After 10 years) | $58,000 | $44,400 | ||
| Making Student Loan Payments | 78% | 63% | ||
| Median Student Loan Debt | $27,000 | $24,000 | ||
| Median Loan Payment | $279 | $248 |
Diversity |
Merrimack | Salem State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Men | 43% | 31% | ||
| % Women | 57% | 69% | ||
| Racial Diversity | Low | Medium | ||
| HBCU | No | No | ||
| % White | 73% | 68% | ||
| % Black | 3% | 9% | ||
| % Hispanic | 5% | 12% | ||
| % Native American | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | ||
| % Two or More Races | 1% | 3% | ||
| % International | 5% | 3% | ||
| % Unknown Race | 11% | 2% |
Students |
Merrimack | Salem State University | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % In-State | 66% | 90% | ||
| % Out-of-State | 31% | 8% | ||
Campus |
Merrimack | Salem State University | ||
| Campus Housing | Yes | Yes | ||
| Freshman Dorm Required | No | No | ||
| Meal Plan | Yes | Yes | ||
| Weekend/Evening Classes | No | No | ||
| Daycare Facility | No | Yes | ||
| Learn More | Details | Details |
Comparable Facts
- Salem State University is larger than than Merrimack based on total student enrollment (6,539 students vs. 5,505 students)
Merrimack vs. Salem State University Cost Comparison
Which college is more expensive, Merrimack or Salem State University?
- Merrimack College is 4,934.6% more expensive to attend than Salem State University for in-state tuition ($45,815.00 vs. $910.00)
- Out of state tuition is 549.9% higher at Merrimack than Salem State University ($45,815.00 vs. $7,050.00)
- The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Salem State University than Merrimack ($19,277 vs. $37,296)
- Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Salem State University are 22.3% lower than costs at Merrimack College ($14,954 vs. $18,295)
- More students receive financial grant aid at Salem State University than Merrimack College (99% vs. 97%)
- The average total grant financial aid received by Merrimack College students is 223.9% larger than aid received Salem State University ($27,729 vs. $8,562)
Merrimack vs. Salem State University Admissions Difficulty Comparison
Which college is harder to get into, Merrimack or Salem State University? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Salem State University or Merrimack .
- Accepted freshman Merrimack students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.3) than students at Salem State University (3.17)
- Salem State University has a higher acceptance rate (92.7%) than Merrimack (74.6%)
Merrimack vs. Salem State University Graduation Outcomes Comparison
Which is better, Merrimack or Salem State University? 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 Salem State University and Merrimack.
- The graduation rate at Merrimack is higher than Salem State University (70% vs. 42%)
- Graduates from Merrimack College earn on average $13,600 more per year than Salem State University graduates after ten years. ($58,000 vs. $44,400)
- Salem State University students graduate with a $3,000 lower median federal student loan debt than Merrimack graduates. ($24,000 vs. $27,000)
- Salem State University graduates are paying $31 less per month on federal student loans than Merrimack graduates. ($248 vs. $279)
- More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Salem State University 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/