Northern Essex Community College
#3 Most Affordable Colleges in Massachusetts- Graduation Rate
- 20% F
- Lower completion rate than most colleges
- Earnings (10yr)
- $42,862 C+
- Roughly in line with national averages
- Net Price
- $6,046 A
- 65% less than the typical college
- Enrollment
- 3,685
Bottom line: A C+ overall grade — average outcomes for a U.S. college. 43.5× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $43.5 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Most Affordable Colleges in Massachusetts.
Every $1 spent returns $43.5 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $1,027,242.
What The Data Says
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A C+ overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.
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Graduation of 20% — 65% below the national average.
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Every $1 invested returns $43.5 over 20 years — an exceptional return.
Why Northern Essex Community College Matters
Northern Essex Community College is a public community college in Haverhill, MA and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by an above-average alumni network. The result: measurable returns for the students it serves.
Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.
Institutional Profile
- Institution Type
- Public Community College
- Carnegie Class
- Associate's College
- Enrollment
- 3,685
- Setting
- Suburban
- Designations
- HSI
- Primary Strengths
- Health Professions, Business & Marketing, Humanities, Computer Science & IT
Why students choose Northern Essex Community College
CollegeRanker Report Card
Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.
Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.
How we grade →Admissions
This school does not report a competitive admit rate — most qualified applicants are admitted.
Check your odds →Net price + aid
Students pay about $6,046 a year after grants and scholarships — 65% below the typical U.S. college. See net price by family income below.
See cost & aid →Earnings + debt
Graduates earn a median of $42,862 ten years after enrolling — 5% above the typical college, against $9,000 in median debt.
See outcomes →Mobility + social capital
Moves 1.6% of its students from the bottom income fifth to the top — top 45% nationally for mobility. High social capital (1.03 economic connectedness).
See mobility →Overview
Northern Essex Community College is a solid choice for students looking to dive into practical fields like Health Professions, Business & Marketing, and Computer Science & IT. With an enrollment of about 3,685, it creates an intimate learning environment where students can connect with faculty and peers. This college suits those who value hands-on training and are eager to enter the workforce with relevant skills.
After graduation, students can expect to earn around $42,862 within ten years. This figure indicates a reasonable return on investment, particularly for those who keep their education affordable. The financial aid landscape is supportive, with nearly half of the students receiving Pell Grants, which can ease the burden of college expenses. While the graduation rate sits at 20%, many who complete their studies find opportunities to advance in their careers.
When it comes to the cost of attendance, the net price after aid is about $6,046, which is quite manageable compared to many other institutions. Graduates carry a median debt of $9,000, making it a feasible option for students mindful of financial commitments. This environment tends to benefit those who are focused, determined, and ready to leverage their education for upward mobility in their chosen fields.
Rankings
- #3 Most Affordable Colleges in Massachusetts
- #8 Best Nursing Colleges in Massachusetts
- #16 Best Community Colleges for Nursing
- #17 Best Education Colleges in Massachusetts
- #20 Best Criminal Justice Colleges in Massachusetts
- #27 Best Online Colleges in Massachusetts
- #27 Best Business Colleges in Massachusetts
- #29 Best Computer Science Colleges in Massachusetts
Can I Get In?
How selective Northern Essex Community College is — and how your numbers stack up.
Tool
Will I Be Accepted?
Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.
Academics & Admissions
Is It Hard to Get Into Northern Essex Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Northern Essex Community College, located in Haverhill, Massachusetts, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 20%.
- Retention Rate
- 61%
- Full-Time Faculty
- 53%
- Faculty Salary (mo)
- $8,318
- Student–Faculty Ratio
- 18:1
- Diversity Index
- 0.63
- First-Gen Students
- 51%
Can I Afford It?
What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.
Cost & Financial Aid
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Northern Essex Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Northern Essex Community College is $12,516, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $6,046. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,256 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,000 in federal student loans.
- In-State Tuition
- $6,732
- Out-of-State
- $12,516
- Avg Net Price
- $6,046
- Median Debt
- $9,000
- Pell Grant Rate
- 47%
- Federal Loan Rate
- 10%
What Families Actually Pay
- Family Income $0–$30K
- $5,256
- Family Income $30K–$48K
- $4,728
- Family Income $48K–$75K
- $6,211
- Family Income $110K+
- $12,476
What Happens After?
Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.
Students Like You
Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at Northern Essex Community College — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.
Graduate Outcomes
Is Northern Essex Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Northern Essex Community College report median earnings of $42,862, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
- 6 Years After Entry
- $36,235
- 8 Years
- $39,480
- 10 Years
- $42,862
- Debt-to-Earnings
- 0.21x
- Earning > $25K
- 55%
Earnings Trajectory
Graduation by Timeframe
- 100% (28)
- 5%
- 100% (28)
- 5%
- 100% (28)
- 5%
- 100% (28)
- 5%
How Northern Compares
Dot right of center = above national average.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.
The Mobility Equation
Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?
College ROI Calculator
Is Northern Essex Community College Worth It?
A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.
Yes — for most students, Northern Essex Community College delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $6,046/year ($24,184 total). Graduates earn $42,862 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $1,051,426 in total earnings — a net gain of $1,027,242 (43.5× your investment). The median debt is $9,000, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 20% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.
- Total Cost (4yr)
- $24,184
- Projected 20yr Earnings
- $1,051,426
- Net Return
- $1,027,242
- ROI Multiple
- 43.5×
- Cost Per Year
- $6,046
- Median Debt
- $9,000
- Debt Payback
- Less than 1 yr
- Graduation Rate
- 20%
Does It Change Lives?
Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?
Social Mobility
Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records
Does Northern Essex Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Northern Essex Community College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.55%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 14.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 10.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $70,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
- Mobility Rate
- 1.55%
- Bottom 20% → Top 20%
- Success Rate
- 10.9%
- If bottom 20% get in
- From Bottom 20%
- 14.3%
- Share of students
- Parent Median Income
- $96,057
- today's $ (2015 cohort data)
Institutional Finances
Data: NCES IPEDS
- Endowment
- $8,065,373
- Federal Grants
- $7,972,156
- Investment Income
- $-1,261,090
Top Programs
The fields Northern Essex Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.
- Health Professions 33% $78,308 early-career
- Business & Marketing 18% $42,081 early-career
- Humanities 17%
- Computer Science & IT 7% $48,987 early-career
- Criminal Justice 4% $43,507 early-career
- Education 4% $29,935 early-career
- Biology & Biomedical 2%
- Visual & Performing Arts 1%
Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.
Top Careers
Where these majors tend to lead — common career paths for Northern Essex Community College's most popular programs, ranked by median pay with our proprietary scorecard insights.
- CChief Executive Officer$189,520 · 3% growthAdaptable 64
- C+IT Manager$169,510 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- C+Cloud Architect$142,000 · 15% growthAdaptable 52
- B-Site Reliability Engineer$140,000 · 20% growthAdaptable 52
- CSolutions Architect$138,000 · 12% growthAdaptable 52
- CHR Manager$136,350 · 5% growthAdaptable 64
- CPharmacist$136,030 · 3% growthResilient 82
- CSales Manager$135,160 · 4% growthAdaptable 64
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Hard to Get Into Northern Essex Community College? Acceptance Rate & Requirements
Northern Essex Community College, located in Haverhill, Massachusetts, enrolls students across a range of programs. The graduation rate is roughly 20%.
How Much Does It Cost to Attend Northern Essex Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid
Published tuition at Northern Essex Community College is $12,516, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $6,046. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,256 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $9,000 in federal student loans.
Is Northern Essex Community College Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI
Ten years out, alumni of Northern Essex Community College report median earnings of $42,862, a figure worth comparing against the cost of attendance before enrolling.
Does Northern Essex Community College Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes
Northern Essex Community College is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 1.55%, well above the typical college. Access is a real strength here. Roughly 14.3% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile, a high share that gives low-income students a real foothold. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 10.9% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $70,700, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.
How Connected Is Northern Essex Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Northern Essex Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.03, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.13). Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Similar Schools
Schools with similar outcomes, selectivity, and student profiles to Northern Essex Community College.
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- City Colleges of Chicago-Wilbur Wright CollegeChicago, IL · Close peer32% grad $41,625 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar size · similar net price
- Massasoit Community CollegeBrockton, MA · Close peer21% grad $46,111 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate · similar size
- Central Maine Community CollegeAuburn, ME · Close peer29% grad $42,448 earnWhy: similar earnings · similar grad rate
Social Capital
Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas
How Connected Is Northern Essex Community College? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks
Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs above average at Northern Essex Community College. Its economic connectedness score is 1.03, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias sits near the middle of the range (0.13). Around 5% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.
Research Note