Merrimack College: A Parent's Guide to Admissions, Cost & Outcomes
North Andover, Massachusetts · Private nonprofit · Moderately selective · CDS 2024-2025
Ranked #25 (tie) in Regional Universities North; Best Undergraduate Engineering Programs #71 (tie), Nursing #288 (tie)U.S. News & World Report, Best Colleges 2027
Admission figures come from the 2024-2025 Common Data Set published by Merrimack College.
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Merrimack College is a private nonprofit university in North Andover, Massachusetts that admits about 70% of applicants, making it a moderately selective school. The average family pays about $37,927 a year after financial aid, which matters more than the published sticker price. It is best known for Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services, Business Administration, Management and Operations and Marketing, its largest undergraduate programs by number of graduates. Its most recent Clery Act report shows roughly 2.3 criminal offenses per 1,000 students.
Merrimack College is a private institution located in North Andover, Massachusetts with a moderately selective admissions profile. For the most recent reporting cycle, Merrimack College admits about half to three-quarters of applicants, with an overall admission rate of 70%. The average net price after grants and scholarships is $37,927 per year, which is the figure most families actually pay rather than the published sticker price.
What GPA does my child need for Merrimack College?
Merrimack College admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum.
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SAT and ACT scores Merrimack College typically admits
Many applicants to schools in this tier submit test scores, though the policy varies by year, so check the latest test-optional status before deciding.
How much does Merrimack College actually cost?
Published tuition is $53,962 for in-state students and $53,962 for out-of-state, before grants and scholarships. Room and board adds roughly $21,525 annually. After need-based and merit aid, the average family pays a net price of $37,927 per year, and that is the number that actually matters for budgeting. Roughly 16% of students receive Pell Grants.
| Average net price (after aid) | $37,927 |
| Financial aid forms | FAFSA only (no CSS Profile)College Board 2026-27 list |
Application deadlines and early decision data for Merrimack College
Most popular majors at Merrimack College
The most popular undergraduate programs at Merrimack College, measured by the number of students who actually graduate each year, are Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services, Business Administration, Management and Operations and Marketing. Across all programs, Merrimack College confers roughly 601 bachelor's degrees a year. Graduates of its Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services program report a median income of about $53,557 five years after entering college. What these figures mean
| Major | Graduates / year | Median earnings (5 yrs out) |
|---|---|---|
| Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services | 114 | $53,557 |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations | 78 | $78,193 |
| Marketing | 77 | n/a |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | 74 | n/a |
| Communication and Media Studies | 67 | $61,206 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | 66 | $55,359 |
| Sports, Kinesiology, and Physical Education/Fitness | 64 | n/a |
| Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General | 61 | n/a |
Is Merrimack College safe? Campus crime & safety
In its most recent Clery Act report (2024), Merrimack College disclosed 9 total criminal offenses across its campus and surrounding public property, about 2.3 per 1,000 students. That figure includes 1 violent offenses and 8 reported sexual assaults or VAWA offenses. Why per-1,000 rates, not counts
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Common questions parents ask about Merrimack College
What GPA do I need for Merrimack College?
Merrimack College admits students with a wide GPA range, but most successful applicants present an unweighted GPA of 3.3 or higher with a college-prep curriculum.
What SAT or ACT score does Merrimack College typically admit?
Merrimack College does not publish standardized test ranges in the most recent reporting cycle. Scores are optional here, and a strong one can still help when the rest of the application is borderline.
How much does Merrimack College actually cost after financial aid?
The average net price at Merrimack College after grants and scholarships is $37,927 per year, against a published in-state tuition of $53,962. Budget against the net figure.
Is Merrimack College realistic for my child?
Merrimack College admits 70% of applicants, so the transcript and course rigour carry the decision, with no published score band to place against. Then check the $37,927 average net price against what your family can carry.
What is the acceptance rate at Merrimack College?
Merrimack College accepts about 70% of applicants. That makes it a moderately selective school.
Is Merrimack College a public or private school, and where is it located?
Merrimack College is a private nonprofit institution located in North Andover, Massachusetts.
What are the most popular majors at Merrimack College?
The largest undergraduate majors at Merrimack College by annual graduates are Human Development, Family Studies, and Related Services, Business Administration, Management and Operations and Marketing. The school awards about 601 bachelor's degrees a year in total. These figures come from federal IPEDS completion data.
Is Merrimack College safe? What is its campus crime rate?
Merrimack College reported 9 total criminal offenses in its most recent Clery Act disclosure (2024), roughly 2.3 per 1,000 students. Compare the per-1,000 rate rather than the raw total, since larger schools report more incidents.
Sources: the 2024-2025 Common Data Set submitted by Merrimack College, the College Scorecard and IPEDS, and Clery Act disclosures. What each source covers