Suffolk University vs Merrimack College: 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 Suffolk University, on median earnings of $75,584 vs $67,506 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Suffolk University | Merrimack College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $29,618 | $37,927 |
| Total net cost | $118,472 | $151,708 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $67,506 | $75,584 |
| Median debt | $26,889 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 6.2 yrs | 5.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $264,448 | $392,772 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Suffolk University or Merrimack College?
Suffolk University, at $29,618 a year after aid versus $37,927 — a gap of $8,309 a year, or $33,236 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Suffolk University or Merrimack College graduates earn more?
Merrimack College graduates report a median $75,584 ten years after entry, $8,078 more than the $67,506 at Suffolk University. 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, Suffolk University or Merrimack College?
Suffolk University: its completers carry a median $26,889 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Merrimack College, a difference of $111. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
70% of students finish at Merrimack College, against 61% at Suffolk University. 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.