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Northern Essex Community College

Public Haverhill, MA · Suburban · New England · 87% data reported · Agent Insights · Claim Your School's Profile ➜
20%
Graduation Rate
$42,862
Earnings (10yr)
$6,046
Net Price
3,685
Enrollment
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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

Outstanding value
Low net price against strong graduate earnings
Strength in Health Professions
Its most-awarded field of study

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

C+
Top 39% overall
C+
Earnings
$42,862 median
A
Value
7.1× net price
A
Affordability
$6,046/yr net
F
Graduation
20% graduate
C
Social Mobility
1.6% climb Q1→Q5
C+
Diversity
0.63 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

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

1

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.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

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 school reports a graduation rate of 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%
2

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

When weighing the true cost of attending Northern Essex Community College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $12,516 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $6,046 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,256 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $9,000.

$6,732
In-State Tuition
$12,516
Out-of-State
$6,046
Avg Net Price
$9,000
Median Debt
47%
Pell Grant Rate
10%
Federal Loan Rate

What Families Actually Pay

$5,256
Family Income $0–$30K
$4,728
Family Income $30K–$48K
$6,211
Family Income $48K–$75K
$12,476
Family Income $110K+
3

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

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; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.

$36,235
6 Years After Entry
$39,480
8 Years
$42,862
10 Years
0.21x
Debt-to-Earnings
55%
Earning > $25K

Earnings Trajectory

$36,235 6yr $39,480 8yr $42,862 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

5%
100% (28)
5%
100% (28)
5%
100% (28)
5%
100% (28)

How Northern Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation20%Earnings 10yr$43KNet Price$6KRetention61%Median Debt$9KPell Grant Rate47%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$5K$0-30K$5K$30-48K$6K$48-75K$12K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%14.3%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%10.9%MOBILITY1.55%
4

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 genuine 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 useful read on the campus's socioeconomic mix.

1.55%
Mobility Rate
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
10.9%
Success Rate
If bottom 20% get in
14.3%
From Bottom 20%
Share of students
$70,700
Parent Median Income

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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.03 (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.

1.03
Economic Connectedness
Cross-class friendships
0.13
Friending Bias
Lower = more inclusive
5.0%
Volunteering Rate
0.97
Support Ratio
Community support

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

$8,065,373
Endowment
Total Expenses
$7,972,156
Federal Grants
$-1,261,090
Investment Income

Top Programs

The fields Northern Essex Community College awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Each links to its degree guide — with salary, growth, and the schools with the strongest outcomes.

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 school reports a graduation rate of roughly 20%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend Northern Essex Community College? Tuition, Net Price & Aid +

When weighing the true cost of attending Northern Essex Community College, prospective students should look past the published sticker price of $12,516 in tuition. The figure that matters more is the average net price — the actual out-of-pocket cost after federal grants, institutional scholarships, and student loans — which works out to about $6,046 for families who qualify for aid. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $5,256 after need-based grants. Graduates leave with a median federal student-loan debt of about $9,000.

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; prospective students should weigh that figure against the program's cost when calculating return on investment.

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 genuine 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 useful read on 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, with an economic connectedness score of 1.03 (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.

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