Head-to-head comparison
Merrimack College vs Emmanuel College: which has better ROI?
Option A North Andover, MA
Merrimack College
- Net price / year
- $37,927
- Earnings, 10 years
- $75,584
- Payback
- 5.6 yrs
Option B Boston, MA
Emmanuel College
- Net price / year
- $26,706
- Earnings, 10 years
- $68,245
- Payback
- 5.4 yrs
Emmanuel College has the better ROI: it clears its 4-year net cost of $106,824 in 5.4 years versus 5.6 years at Merrimack College, on median earnings of $68,245 vs $75,584 ten years out. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Merrimack College | Emmanuel College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $37,927 | $26,706 |
| Total net cost | $151,708 | $106,824 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $75,584 | $68,245 |
| Median debt | $27,000 | $27,000 |
| Payback | 5.6 yrs | 5.4 yrs |
| 20-year net return | $392,772 | $290,876 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Merrimack College or Emmanuel College?
Emmanuel College, at $26,706 a year after aid versus $37,927 — a gap of $11,221 a year, or $44,884 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Merrimack College or Emmanuel College graduates earn more?
Merrimack College graduates report a median $75,584 ten years after entry, $7,339 more than the $68,245 at Emmanuel 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.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Merrimack College or Emmanuel College?
Completers at both borrow a median $27,000, so neither school has the debt advantage. That figure covers federal loans of students who finished — borrowers who leave early are not counted, and private loans sit outside it.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
70% of students finish at Merrimack College, against 68% at Emmanuel 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.