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Boston, MA · North Andover, MA
| Emerson College | Merrimack College | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ||
| Price after aid (average) | $49,180/yr | $37,927/yr |
| Price after aid (family income under $30k) | $32,650/yr | $31,710/yr |
| Typical loan debt at graduation | $23,000 | $27,000 |
| Price after aid ($30k–$48k income) | $32,621/yr | $29,417/yr |
| Price after aid ($48k–$75k income) | $41,927/yr | $31,962/yr |
| Price after aid ($75k–$110k income) | $46,252/yr | $36,045/yr |
| Price after aid (income over $110k) | $57,288/yr | $41,050/yr |
| Typical loan payment after graduation | $244/mo | $286/mo |
| Room & board (on campus) | $20,920/yr | $21,525/yr |
| Room & board (off campus) | $17,866/yr | $21,525/yr |
| Borrowers who default | 0% | 0% |
| Books & supplies | $1,250/yr | $1,000/yr |
| Other living costs (on campus) | $3,443/yr | $2,200/yr |
| Sticker price (before aid) | $80,399/yr | $70,038/yr |
| Tuition (in-state) | $57,056/yr | $53,962/yr |
| Tuition (out-of-state) | $57,056/yr | $53,962/yr |
| Students with Pell Grants | 16% | 16% |
| Students taking federal loans | 43% | 60% |
| Getting in | ||
| Students who get accepted | 51% | 70% |
| SAT range (middle 50%) | 1270–1420 | No data reported |
| SAT average | 1358 | No data reported |
| ACT range (middle 50%) | 29–32 | No data reported |
| ACT sections (middle 50%) | English 29–35 · Math 25–30 | No data reported |
| Admissions data from | Fall 2023 | Fall 2023 |
| Applications received | 11,092 | 13,693 |
| Students accepted | 5,267 | 10,079 |
| Students who enrolled | 997 | 1,071 |
| Accepted students who enroll | 19% | 11% |
| Enrolled who sent SAT scores | 20% | No data reported |
| Enrolled who sent ACT scores | 7% | No data reported |
| High-school GPA | Required | 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 | Optional (considered if sent) | 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 | Not considered | Not considered |
| SAT/ACT policy | Optional (considered if sent) | Not considered |
| Graduation & earnings | ||
| Students who graduate | 77% | 70% |
| Freshmen who come back | 87% | 79% |
| Typical earnings 10 years in | $62,832/yr | $75,584/yr |
| Earnings range 10 years in | $33,763–$89,059 | $52,191–$106,878 |
| Finish within 8 years (anywhere) | 79% | 69% |
| White students graduating | 78% | 73% |
| Black students graduating | 88% | 63% |
| Hispanic students graduating | 77% | 55% |
| Asian students graduating | 70% | 54% |
| Typical earnings 6 years in | $42,799/yr | $54,316/yr |
| Earn more than a HS grad | 73% | 89% |
| Graduate on time | 71% | 63% |
| Pell students who graduate | 70% | 58% |
| First-gen students who finish | 79% | 69% |
| Low-income students who finish | 75% | 63% |
| Students who transfer out | No data reported | 21% |
| Typical earnings 8 years in | $53,113/yr | $55,201/yr |
| Majors & programs | ||
| Top 3 programs | Visual & Performing Arts 55% · Communication & Journalism 15% · English Language & Literature 12% | Business, Management & Marketing 30% · Health Professions 16% · Family & Consumer Sciences 8% |
| Most popular program | Visual & Performing Arts — 55% of degrees | Business, Management & Marketing — 30% of degrees |
| 2nd most popular program | Communication & Journalism — 15% of degrees | Health Professions — 16% of degrees |
| 3rd most popular program | English Language & Literature — 12% of degrees | Family & Consumer Sciences — 8% of degrees |
| 4th most popular program | Business, Management & Marketing — 12% of degrees | Homeland Security & Protective Services — 6% of degrees |
| 5th most popular program | Health Professions — 2% of degrees | Engineering — 6% of degrees |
| Highest-paying major (1 year out) | Marketing — $67,474/yr | Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering — $79,659/yr |
| Degrees in STEM | 0% | 15% |
| Campus & students | ||
| Undergrad enrollment | 3,870 | 3,916 |
| Students per professor | 14 : 1 | 13 : 1 |
| Graduate students | 1,355 | 1,760 |
| Average professor pay | $11,853/mo | $12,316/mo |
| Full-time professors | 32% | 44% |
| Fully online | No | No |
| Accredited by | New England Commission on Higher Education | New England Commission on Higher Education |
| Median family income | $93,112 | $102,956 |
| Setting | City (large) | Suburb (large) |
| Location | Boston, MA | North Andover, MA |
| Region | New England | New England |
| Founded | 1880 | 1947 |
| Public or private | Private (nonprofit) | Private (nonprofit) |
| Main degree offered | Bachelor's degrees | Bachelor's degrees |
| Carnegie classification | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs | Master's Colleges & Universities: Larger Programs |
| Main or branch campus | Main campus | Main campus |
| International students | 15% | 2% |
| Men | 34% | 46% |
| Women | 66% | 54% |
| White students | 55% | 75% |
| Black students | 6.1% | 4% |
| Hispanic or Latino students | 12% | 12% |
| Asian students | 5.7% | 1.9% |
| Two or more races | 5% | 2.7% |
| Other / not reported | 1.9% | 3% |
| Special type | None | Religiously affiliated |
| First-generation students | 13% | 21% |
| Part-time students | 1% | 2.6% |
| Students age 25+ | 1.2% | 2.1% |
| Spent on teaching per student | $13,023/yr | $8,809/yr |
| Endowment | $264.7M | $86.9M |
| Campus life | ||
| Campus data from | 2023 | 2023 |
| On-campus housing | Yes — dorms on campus | Yes — dorms on campus |
| Beds in campus housing | 2,583 | 2,826 |
| Required to live on campus | No | No |
| Room charge (campus housing) | No data reported | $11,232/yr |
| Meal plan charge | No data reported | $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 | No | No |
| Accepts AP credit | Yes | Yes |
| Accepts dual-enrollment credit | No | 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 | Yes | Yes |
| Student veteran organization | No | No |
| Tuition payment plan | Yes | Yes |
| Guaranteed (locked) tuition | No | No |
| Prepaid tuition plan | No | 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 | 14 | 28 |
| Student athletes | 222 | 696 |
| Athletic scholarships | $0 | $17.2M |
| Athletics budget | $3.2M | $31.7M |
| Athletics revenue | $3.4M | $31.7M |
| Recruiting spend | $74,016 | $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.