Merrimack College vs Wheaton College (Massachusetts): which has better ROI?
Merrimack College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $151,708 in 5.6 years versus 6.2 years at Wheaton College (Massachusetts), on median earnings of $75,584 vs $67,725 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Merrimack College | Wheaton College (Massachusetts) |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $37,927 | $29,822 |
| Total net cost | $151,708 | $119,288 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $75,584 | $67,725 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $26,000 |
| Payback | 5.6 yrs | 6.2 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $392,772 | $268,012 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Merrimack College or Wheaton College (Massachusetts)?
Wheaton College (Massachusetts), at $29,822 a year after aid versus $37,927 — a gap of $8,105 a year, or $32,420 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 Wheaton College (Massachusetts) graduates earn more?
Merrimack College graduates report a median $75,584 ten years after entry, $7,859 more than the $67,725 at Wheaton College (Massachusetts). 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 Wheaton College (Massachusetts)?
Wheaton College (Massachusetts): its completers carry a median $26,000 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Merrimack College, a difference of $1,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
73% of students finish at Wheaton College (Massachusetts), 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.