Merrimack College

What is the history of Merrimack College?

Merrimack College was founded in 1947 in North Andover, Massachusetts, by the Order of St. Augustine. Its original purpose included expanding higher-education opportunities for veterans returning from World War II. That history helps explain both the college's Augustinian identity and its continuing emphasis on service.

The college has grown from a small undergraduate institution into one offering programs across the liberal arts, business, education, engineering, nursing, and health sciences, as well as graduate study. It remains a private college rather than a campus of the Massachusetts public university system.

What are the faculties and departments at Merrimack College?

Merrimack organizes its academic programs into five schools: the School of Arts and Sciences, Girard School of Business, School of Education and Social Policy, School of Engineering and Computational Sciences, and School of Nursing and Health Sciences. Students can pursue undergraduate and graduate credentials, although available degrees and delivery formats differ by program.

The range includes humanities and social sciences alongside business, computer science, engineering, teacher preparation, nursing, and other health-related fields. A prospective student comparing majors should examine the current academic catalog for required courses, clinical or fieldwork placements, and whether changing majors could alter the time needed to graduate. Requirements in a professional program may be more prescribed than those in a liberal arts major.

What is the location of Merrimack College?

Merrimack College is in North Andover, a suburban community in northeastern Massachusetts. Its location gives students a residential campus setting within reach of employers and cultural institutions in the Greater Boston region, without placing the campus in downtown Boston.

Commuting plans deserve attention. Regional rail and other transportation options may be useful for particular trips, but students should check the connection between a station and campus rather than assume a train stops at the college. Boston Logan International Airport is the principal major airport for longer-distance travel. First-year students are permitted to register a car to park on campus, subject to the college's parking rules.

What is the mission and vision of Merrimack College?

Merrimack describes itself as a Catholic college in the Augustinian tradition. Its stated educational purpose connects intellectual development with community, ethical reflection, and service; these are institutional aims, not measurable outcomes that every student will experience in the same way.

The Augustinian affiliation is relevant to the college's history, campus ministry, and approach to community engagement. Applicants who want to understand how that identity affects their studies can look at the specific curriculum and student activities available to them. A religious affiliation does not mean that every student organization or academic course is religious.