Merrimack College vs Brandeis University: which has better ROI?
Brandeis University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $142,944 in 5 years versus 5.6 years at Merrimack College, on median earnings of $77,231 vs $75,584 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Merrimack College | Brandeis University |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $37,927 | $35,736 |
| Total net cost | $151,708 | $142,944 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $75,584 | $77,231 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $25,648 |
| Payback | 5.6 yrs | 5 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $392,772 | $434,476 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Merrimack College or Brandeis University?
Brandeis University, at $35,736 a year after aid versus $37,927 — a gap of $2,191 a year, or $8,764 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Merrimack College or Brandeis University graduates earn more?
Brandeis University graduates report a median $77,231 ten years after entry, $1,647 more than the $75,584 at Merrimack College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
Which leaves students with less debt, Merrimack College or Brandeis University?
Brandeis University: its completers carry a median $25,648 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Merrimack College, a difference of $1,352. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
86% of students finish at Brandeis University, against 70% at Merrimack College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.