Merrimack College received more than 13,000 undergraduate applications for fall 2022, the highest ever in Merrimack’s history and a testament to key investments across the College including academic programming, campus infrastructure improvements and greater support services.
This number represents a 24% increase from fall 2021 applications and is expected to lead to the largest first-year class in Merrimack’s history.
“Merrimack College’s reputation as a premier higher education institution continues to grow across the country,” said President Christopher E. Hopey, Ph.D. “Students are responding to the College’s commitment to offering an academically rigorous and service-focused college experience that will prepare them to be leaders in their fields and solve future challenges.”
There was a significant increase in applications from students with a 3.6 GPA or higher, with 4,583 in 2022 compared to 3,416 in 2021.
While the majority of applications came from Massachusetts, Merrimack saw an increase in applicants from states such as Maryland, Illinois and Tennessee. After New England, the most applications came from the Mid-Atlantic region. Despite travel and safety restrictions in place around the world due to the pandemic, the College continued to see steady interest from international students, particularly in Pakistan, Nigeria and Ethiopia.
Recognizing the myriad challenges high school students faced as a result of the pandemic, Merrimack College adjusted its application process to better accommodate students’ needs and changing timelines by introducing rolling admissions. Merrimack has been a test-optional institution for almost 10 years but made the decision to waive standardized test score requirements for nursing students as a result of the pandemic.
Despite setbacks related to the pandemic, the influx of applications demonstrates prospective students and their families’ recognition of Merrimack’s prioritization in the ever-changing higher education landscape. Guided by the Agenda For The Future, the College’s strategic plan for 2021-2026, Merrimack College has taken steps to grow its academic and research efforts, and expand its campus footprint while remaining rooted in its Augustinian Catholic mission.
