Merrimack vs. Sterling College

Merrimack College and Sterling College side by side on admissions, cost, and outcomes, from public data.

Merrimack College
Sterling College

At a glance

  • Harder to get into: Sterling College (66.7% admitted vs 70%). Typical SAT N/A vs N/A.
  • Cheaper after aid: Sterling College. Average net price is $21,854 vs $38,504 at Merrimack.
  • Graduation: Merrimack 70% vs Sterling College 50%.
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Key differences

Merrimack College Sterling College
Acceptance rate
Sterling College more selective
Merrimack70%
Sterling College66.7%
SAT range (middle 50%)
Merrimack-
Sterling College-
Average net price
Sterling College $16,650 less
Merrimack$38,504
Sterling College$21,854
In-state tuition
Sterling College $13,202 less
Merrimack$53,962
Sterling College$40,760
Out-of-state tuition
Sterling College $13,202 less
Merrimack$53,962
Sterling College$40,760
Graduation rate
Merrimack +20 pts
Merrimack70%
Sterling College50%
Median earnings (10 years)
Merrimack +$58,000
Merrimack$58,000
Sterling College-

Sources: IPEDS and College Scorecard.

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  • Applied
  • Merrimack 14,070
  • Sterling College 69
  • Admitted
  • Merrimack 9,852
  • Sterling College 46
  • Acceptance rate
  • Merrimack 70%
  • Sterling College 66.7%
  • Yield (share of admitted who enroll)
  • Merrimack 9.9%
  • Sterling College 10.9%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Merrimack
  • Sterling College
  • Typical ACT score
  • Merrimack
  • Sterling College
  • Average high school GPA
  • Merrimack 3.3
  • Sterling College 3.1
  • Typical high school grades
  • Merrimack B+
  • Sterling College B
  • Admissions standards
  • Merrimack Unavailable
  • Sterling College Unavailable
  • Applicant competition
  • Merrimack Low
  • Sterling College Low
  • SAT range
  • Merrimack
  • Sterling College
  • ACT range
  • Merrimack
  • Sterling College
  • Submit test scores
  • Merrimack Test-free
  • Sterling College Test-free
  • Application deadline
  • Merrimack Sep 1, 2026
  • Sterling College
  • Tuition (in state)
  • Merrimack $53,962
  • Sterling College $40,760
  • Tuition (out of state)
  • Merrimack $53,962
  • Sterling College $40,760
  • Room & board
  • Merrimack $21,525
  • Sterling College $10,950
  • Average net price
  • Merrimack $38,504
  • Sterling College $21,854
  • Average grant aid
  • Merrimack $31,550
  • Sterling College $32,556
  • % receiving grant aid
  • Merrimack 100%
  • Sterling College 100%
  • Graduation rate
  • Merrimack 70%
  • Sterling College 50%
  • Median earnings (after 10 years)
  • Merrimack $58,000
  • Sterling College N/A
  • Making student loan payments
  • Merrimack 78%
  • Sterling College 74%
  • Median student loan debt
  • Merrimack $27,000
  • Sterling College $17,035
  • Median loan payment
  • Merrimack $279
  • Sterling College $176
  • Student to faculty ratio
  • Merrimack 13:1
  • Sterling College 7:1
  • Popular majors
  • Merrimack
    • Business (32%)
    • Social Sciences (10%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • Biology (6%)
  • Sterling College
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (48%)
    • Biology (33%)
    • Agriculture (14%)
    • Recreation, Leisure and Fitness Studies (5%)
  • Location
  • Merrimack North Andover, MA
  • Sterling College Craftsbury Common, VT
  • Setting
  • Merrimack Large Suburban
  • Sterling College Remote Rural
  • Total enrollment
  • Merrimack 5,862
  • Sterling College 57
  • Type
  • Merrimack Private 4 Year
  • Sterling College Private 4 Year
  • National ranking
  • Merrimack
  • Sterling College

Comparable Facts

Compare Merrimack College in North Andover, MA with Sterling College in Craftsbury Common, VT on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the tables above.

Merrimack College is larger than Sterling College based on total student enrollment (5,862 students vs. 57 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Merrimack College is located in North Andover, MA (Large Suburban setting); Sterling College is in Craftsbury Common, VT (Remote Rural setting).
  • Merrimack College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Sterling College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Merrimack College 13:1; Sterling College 7:1.

Cost details

  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Sterling College are 49.1% lower than at Merrimack College ($10,950 vs. $21,525).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 32.4% higher at Merrimack than at Sterling College (about $13,202 more per year; $53,962 vs. $40,760).
  • The same share of students receive grant aid at Merrimack College as at Sterling College (100% vs. 100%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Sterling College students is 3.2% larger than aid received by Merrimack College students ($32,556 vs. $31,550).

Admissions details

  • SAT or ACT scores are test-free at both Merrimack and Sterling College.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Merrimack Sep 1, 2026.
  • Enrolled first-year students at Merrimack average a 3.3 high school GPA, 0.2 higher than at Sterling College (3.1).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 9.9% at Merrimack vs. 10.9% at Sterling College.

Loans and repayment

  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Sterling College graduates have a $9,965 lower median loan debt than Merrimack graduates ($17,035 vs. $27,000).
  • Among borrowers, Sterling College graduates have an estimated $103 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Merrimack graduates ($176 vs. $279).
  • More Merrimack graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Sterling College students, three years after graduation (78% vs. 74%).

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

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