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Waltham, MA · North Andover, MA
| Brandeis University | Merrimack College | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $35,736/yr | $37,927/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $13,363/yr | $31,710/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $25,648 | $27,000 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $15,135/yr | $29,417/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $20,536/yr | $31,962/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $26,784/yr | $36,045/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $54,885/yr | $41,050/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $272/mo | $286/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $19,944/yr | $21,525/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $13,313/yr | $21,525/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,000/yr | $1,000/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $1,200/yr | $2,200/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $86,448/yr | $70,038/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $68,080/yr | $53,962/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $68,080/yr | $53,962/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 15% | 16% |
| Students taking federal loans | 28% | 60% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 41% | 70% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1390–1520 | No data reported |
| SAT average | 1462 | No data reported |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 31–34 | No data reported |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 31–35 · Math 27–34 | No data reported |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 11,282 | 13,693 |
| Students accepted | 3,984 | 10,079 |
| Students who enrolled | 865 | 1,071 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 22% | 11% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 31% | No data reported |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 11% | No data reported |
| High-school GPA | Optional (considered if sent) | Required |
| High-school transcript | Required | Required |
| Essay | Required | Required |
| Recommendation letters | Required | Required |
| Class rank | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| College-prep program | Required | Required |
| Demonstrated competencies | Not considered | Not considered |
| Work experience | Optional (considered if sent) | Optional (considered if sent) |
| English proficiency test | Required | Required |
| Other admission tests | Not considered | Not considered |
| Legacy considered | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 86% | 70% |
| Freshmen who come back | 87% | 79% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $77,231/yr | $75,584/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $51,787–$116,723 | $52,191–$106,878 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 88% | 69% |
| White students graduating | 88% | 73% |
| Black students graduating | 80% | 63% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 83% | 55% |
| Asian students graduating | 87% | 54% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $52,967/yr | $54,316/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 85% | 89% |
| Graduate on time | 77% | 63% |
| Pell students who graduate | 82% | 58% |
| First-gen students who finish | 79% | 69% |
| Low-income students who finish | 75% | 63% |
| Students who transfer out | 7.7% | 21% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $69,857/yr | $55,201/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Social Sciences 19% · Biological & Biomedical Sciences 19% · Psychology 8% | Business, Management & Marketing 30% · Health Professions 16% · Family & Consumer Sciences 8% |
| Most popular program | Social Sciences — 19% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 30% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Biological & Biomedical Sciences — 19% of degrees | Health Professions — 16% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | Psychology — 8% of degrees | Family & Consumer Sciences — 8% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Public Administration & Social Service — 8% of degrees | Homeland Security & Protective Services — 6% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Computer & Information Sciences — 7% of degrees | Engineering — 6% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Business Administration, Management and Operations — $89,111/yr | Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering — $79,659/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 35% | 15% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 3,618 | 3,916 |
| Students per professor | 10 : 1 | 13 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 1,573 | 1,760 |
| Average professor pay | $14,570/mo | $12,316/mo |
| Full-time professors | 74% | 44% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | New England Commission on Higher Education | New England Commission on Higher Education |
| Median family income | $72,612 | $102,956 |
| Setting | City (small) | Suburb (large) |
| Location | Waltham, MA | North Andover, MA |
| Region | New England | New England |
| Founded | 1948 | 1947 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Doctoral Universities: Very High Research Activity | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 19% | 2% |
| Men | 43% | 46% |
| Women | 57% | 54% |
| White students | 41% | 75% |
| Black students | 5.8% | 4% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 9% | 12% |
| Asian students | 18% | 1.9% |
| Two or more races | 4.3% | 2.7% |
| Other / not reported | 2.4% | 3% |
| Special type | None | Religiously affiliated |
| First-generation students | 16% | 21% |
| Part-time students | 0.2% | 2.6% |
| Students age 25+ | 0.4% | 2.1% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $21,670/yr | $8,809/yr |
| Endowment | $1.3B | $86.9M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 2,950 | 2,826 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | $10,160/yr | $11,232/yr |
| Meal plan charge | $7,658/yr | $8,763/yr |
| Meal plan offered | Yes | Yes |
| Meals per week | Varies by week | 19 meals/week |
| Academic calendar | Semester | Semester |
| Religious affiliation | No data reported | Roman Catholic |
| Federal designation | None | None |
| Study abroad | Yes | Yes |
| Undergraduate research | No | No |
| ROTC | Yes — Army, Air Force | No |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | Yes | No |
| Credit for life experience | No | Yes |
| Online classes | Yes | Yes |
| Whole degrees online | No | Yes |
| Weekend & evening classes | No | Yes |
| Teacher certification | Yes | Yes |
| Academic & career counseling | Yes | Yes |
| Job help while you study | Yes | Yes |
| Job placement for graduates | Yes | Yes |
| On-campus day care | No | No |
| Program for students with intellectual disabilities | No | No |
| Yellow Ribbon (GI Bill) school | Yes | Yes |
| Credit for military training | No | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | No | No |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | Yes | No |
| Athletics | ||
| Athletics data from | 2024-25 | 2024-25 |
| College sports level | NCAA Division III without football | NCAA Division I-FCS |
| Football team | No | Yes |
| Varsity teams | 15 | 28 |
| Student athletes | 287 | 696 |
| Athletic scholarships | $0 | $17.2M |
| Athletics budget | $5.7M | $31.7M |
| Athletics revenue | $5.7M | $31.7M |
| Recruiting spend | $76,511 | $268,412 |
Data: U.S. Department of Education — College Scorecard 2026-06-10, EADA athletics, IPEDS admissions — each on its own survey year. Campus life: IPEDS institutional characteristics, retrieved from the Urban Institute Education Data Portal (ODC-BY 1.0). Founding year, logo, campus photo and links via Wikidata / Wikipedia. SHMACS is an independent tool and is not affiliated with or endorsed by any institution shown.