Tufts University vs Merrimack College: which has better ROI?
Tufts University has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $159,992 in 4.6 years versus 5.6 years at Merrimack College, on median earnings of $83,214 vs $75,584 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Tufts University | Merrimack College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $39,998 | $37,927 |
| Total net cost | $159,992 | $151,708 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $83,214 | $75,584 |
| Median debt | $16,250 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 4.6 yrs | 5.6 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $537,088 | $392,772 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Tufts University or Merrimack College?
Merrimack College, at $37,927 a year after aid versus $39,998 — a gap of $2,071 a year, or $8,284 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Tufts University or Merrimack College graduates earn more?
Tufts University graduates report a median $83,214 ten years after entry, $7,630 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, Tufts University or Merrimack College?
Tufts University: its completers carry a median $16,250 in federal loans versus $27,000 at Merrimack College, a difference of $10,750. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
94% of students finish at Tufts 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.