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Merrimack College — ROI, Cost & Payback

Private nonprofit · North Andover, MA · 3,916 students

The verdict

Merrimack College charges a net price of $37,927/yr after aid — a 4-year total of $151,708. Graduates earn a median $75,584 ten years after entry, $27,224/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline, clearing the total in 5.6 years — a 20-year net return of $392,772, a solid payback. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)

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Merrimack College's 5.6-year payback ranks #490 of 1,280 US colleges we track — better ROI than 62% of them, and #31 of 85 in Massachusetts.

Better ROI than 62% of US colleges#490 of 1,280
Weakest ROIStrongest ROI
$37,927
Net price / yr
Scorecard, 2026
$75,584
Median earnings, 10 yrs
Scorecard, 2026
5.6 yrs
Payback
Our math, 2026
70%
Admission rate
Scorecard, 2026
Merrimack College: cost, earnings and payback
MeasureValueSource
Net price (after aid)$37,927/yrScorecard, 2026
Total net cost (4 yrs)$151,708our math
Median earnings, 10 yrs after entry$75,584Scorecard, 2026
Earnings premium over HS baseline$27,224/yrour math
Median debt (completers)$27,000Scorecard, 2026
Payback5.6 yrsour math
20-year net return$392,772our math

College Scorecard (2026 release), institution-level · payback and returns are our math.

The arithmetic, on Merrimack College's own numbers. Net price $37,927 × 4 years = $151,708 total. Median earnings $75,584 − the $48,360 high-school baseline = $27,224 a year of premium. $151,708 ÷ $27,224 = 5.6 years to break even; twenty years of that premium minus the cost leaves $392,772. Future dollars are not discounted, and the earnings figure blends every major here — your programme can beat or miss it. Full method.

How much debt do Merrimack College students graduate with?

A median $27,000 in federal loans among completers, or 36% of the $75,584 its graduates earn ten years out — our math. The figure excludes private loans and students who left before finishing.

What share of Merrimack College students graduate?

70% finish their degree. Spread the $151,708 bill across that completion rate and the cohort pays $216,726 per graduate produced — our math, and the figure a payback number never shows.

Is Merrimack College expensive compared with other Massachusetts colleges?

Its $37,927 net price runs $13,044 above the $24,883 median across the 85 Massachusetts colleges we profile, or $52,176 more across the full degree.

Merrimack College: frequently asked questions

Is Merrimack College worth the cost?
On the numbers, yes. Merrimack College charges $37,927/yr after aid ($151,708 over 4 years), and graduates earn a median $75,584 ten years out — $27,224/yr above the $48,360 high-school baseline. That clears the cost in 5.6 years and returns $392,772 net over 20 years, a solid payback.
How long does a Merrimack College degree take to pay off?
About 5.6 years. We divide the $151,708 four-year net cost by the $27,224/yr earnings premium over the high-school baseline. It is a floor, not a ceiling — mid-career raises pay it back faster.
How much does Merrimack College cost after financial aid?
The median net price is $37,927/yr — about $151,708 over 4 years. That is what the typical aided student actually pays after grants and scholarships, not the published sticker price.
How does Merrimack College compare to other Massachusetts colleges?
It ranks #31 of 85 Massachusetts colleges we track by payback. Its $75,584 median earnings beat the national median of $43,549, and its $37,927 net price is above the national median of $16,902.