Northern Essex Community College

  • The mission of Northern Essex Community College is to serve the people of the Greater Merrimack Valley as a caring and comprehensive center of educational excellence that offers high quality, affordable adult and post secondary education through the Associate Degree level, as well as a broad range of occupational programs and community services which enhance the social, cultural and economic life of the region.

School Highlights

Northern Essex Community College serves 5,808 students (21% of students are full-time).
The college's student:teacher ratio of 12:1 is same as the state community college average of 12:1.
Minority enrollment is 60% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the state average of 57%.

Quick Stats (2025)

  • Enrollment: 5,808 students
  • In-state tuition: $4,320
  • Out-state tuition: $10,104
  • Student:teacher ratio: 12:1
  • Minority enrollment: 60%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

School Overview

The teacher population of 498 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Northern Essex Community College
(MA) Community College Avg.
Carnegie Classification
Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Career & Technical-High Traditional
Associate's Colleges: Mixed Transfer/Career & Technical-Mixed Traditional/Nontraditional
Institution Level
At least 2 but less than 4 years
At least 2 but less than 4 years
Institution Control
Public
Public
Total Faculty
498 staff
290 staff
This chart displays total faculty of Northern Essex Community College and community college average number of faculty in Massachusetts by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.

Student Body

The student population of Northern Essex Community College has grown by 17% over five years.
The student:teacher ratio of 12:1 has increased from 9:1 over five years.
The Northern Essex Community College diversity score of 0.63 is less than the state average of 0.74. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five years.
Total Enrollment
5,808 students
2,106 students
This chart displays the total enrollment of Northern Essex Community College and community college average number of enrollment of Massachusetts by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
12:1
12:1
This chart displays the student staff ratio of Northern Essex Community College and community college average student staff ratio of Massachusetts by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
# Full-Time Students
1,220 students
1,039 students
This chart displays the total number of Full-time students enrollment of Northern Essex Community College and average number of community college Full-time students enrollment of Massachusetts by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.
# Part-Time Students
4,588 students
1,619 students
This chart displays the total number of Part-time students enrollment of Northern Essex Community College and average number of community college Part-time students enrollment of Massachusetts by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.
This chart displays the Full-time students and Part-time students enrollment breakdown of Northern Essex Community College.
This chart displays community college average Full-Time students and Part-Time students enrollment breakdown of Massachusetts.
# Enrollment Undergraduate
580 students
278 students
# Full-Time Undergraduate Students
1,220 students
839 students
This chart displays the total number of Full-time undergraduate students enrollment of Northern Essex Community College and average number of community college Full-time undergraduate  students enrollment of Massachusetts by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.
# Full-Time Graduate Students
n/a
99 students
# Part-Time Undergraduate Students
4,588 students
1,619 students
# Part-Time Graduate Students
n/a
83 students
Total Dormitory Capacity
n/a
443 students
% American Indian/Alaskan
n/a
n/a
This chart displays the percentage of American Indian/Alaskan students in Northern Essex Community College and the percentage of American Indian/Alaskan community college students in Massachusetts by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.
% Asian
2%
6%
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Northern Essex Community College and the percentage of Asian community college students in Massachusetts by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Hispanic
45%
21%
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Northern Essex Community College and the percentage of Hispanic community college students in Massachusetts by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
% Black
5%
15%
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Northern Essex Community College and the percentage of Black community college students in Massachusetts by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% White
40%
43%
This chart displays the percentage of White students in Northern Essex Community College and the percentage of White community college students in Massachusetts by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Hawaiian
n/a
1%
This chart displays the percentage of Hawaiian students in Northern Essex Community College and the percentage of Hawaiian community college students in Massachusetts by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.
% Two or more races
1%
3%
This chart displays the percentage of Two or more races students in Northern Essex Community College and the percentage of Two or more races community college students in Massachusetts by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
% Non Resident races
1%
2%
This chart displays the percentage of Non Resident students in Northern Essex Community College and the percentage of Non Resident community college students in Massachusetts by year, with the latest 2020-21 school year data.
% Unknown races
5%
9%
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Northern Essex Community College.
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Massachusetts.
Diversity Score
0.63
0.74
This chart displays the diversity score of Northern Essex Community College and the community college average diversity score of Massachusetts by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in less than 4 years)
0.1865%
0.2128%
This chart displays completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of Northern Essex Community College and community college average completion rates for First-Time of Full-time students of Massachusetts by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.
College Completion Rate (Students who graduate in 4 years or more than 4 years)
n/a
0.4706%
Average Graduate Earnings (10 Years)
$33,700
$35,500
This chart displays average graduate earnings (10 Years) of Northern Essex Community College and community college average graduate earnings (10 Years) of Massachusetts by year, disaggregated by student subgroups with the latest 2012-13 school year data.

Tuition and Acceptance Rate

The public in-state tuition of $4,320 is less than the state average of $4,424. The in-state tuition has declined by 22% over four years.
The public out-state tuition of $10,104 is more than the state average of $9,401. The out-state tuition has declined by 10% over four years.
In-State Tuition Fees
$4,320
$4,424
This chart displays tuition fees for an in-state student of Northern Essex Community College and the public community college average tuition fees for an in-state student of Massachusetts by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.
Out-State Tuition Fees
$10,104
$9,401
This chart displays tuition fees for an out-of-state student of Northern Essex Community College and the public community college average tuition fees for an out-of-state student of Massachusetts by year, with the latest 2023-24 school year data.
% Students Receiving Some Financial Aid
75%
87%
This chart displays the percent of students who is receiving some financial aid in Northern Essex Community College and the percent of community college students who is receiving some financial aid in Massachusetts by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Median Debt for Graduates
$9,950
$12,000
This chart displays median debt for students who have completed a certificate or degree in Northern Essex Community College and average median debt for community college students who have completed a certificate or degree in Massachusetts by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Median Debt for Dropouts
$5,250
$5,500
This chart displays median debt for students who have not completed a certificate or degree in Northern Essex Community College and average median debt for community college students who have not completed a certificate or degree in Massachusetts by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Acceptance Rate
n/a
75%
SAT Reading
n/a
540
SAT Math
n/a
535
SAT Writing
n/a
480
ACT Composite
n/a
21
Source: 2024 (or latest year available) Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

School Notes

  • Northern Essex is located in the Merrimack Valley in northeastern Massachusetts, just a few miles from the New Hampshire border, our mission is to provide access to quality higher education at an affordable cost. We offer post secondary education through the associate degree level, including career programs in areas such as nursing and allied health, computers, criminal justice, paralegal studies, and deaf studies and dozens of transfer programs for students who want to start at Northern Essex and transfer for their junior and senior years, eventually earning a bachelor's degree or higher. Excellent facilities, solid academic support services and a dynamic student activity program are part of the educational opportunities available at Northern Essex. Flexible scheduling and the option of completing your degree or certificate at your own pace are hallmarks of a Northern Essex education. Northern Essex Community College is justifiably proud of the quality of education and services we offer to our students. Each year over 15,000 individuals study at Northern Essex either full- or part-time. We have a teaching faculty who concentrate their education, experience and effort in the classroom. When your education is completed, you will have the skills needed to join the thousands of Northern Essex graduates who have transferred successfully to baccalaureate programs, or who have become a part of the highly skilled business, industrial and professional work force for which New England is famous.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Northern Essex Community College cost?
Northern Essex Community College's tuition is approximately $4,320 for In-State students and $10,104 for Out-State students.

School Calendar

View the Northern Essex Community College yearly calendar below.

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Quick Stats (2025)

  • Enrollment: 5,808 students
  • In-state tuition: $4,320
  • Out-state tuition: $10,104
  • Student:teacher ratio: 12:1
  • Minority enrollment: 60%
  • Source: Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS)

Related School Videos

Did You Know?

For Massachusetts public community colleges, the average tuition is approximately $4,424 per year for in-state students and $9,401 for out-of-state students. For private community colleges, the average yearly tuition is approximately $30,266 per year. Read more about average community college tuition costs across the country.

The average community college acceptance rate in Massachusetts is 71%. Read more about national community college acceptance rates.

Massachusetts community colleges have a diversity score of 0.74, which is higher than the national average of 0.00. The most diverse community college in Massachusetts is Fisher College. Read more about community college diversity statistics in the USA.

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