Holyoke Community College vs. NECC

Comparable Facts

Compare Holyoke Community College in Holyoke, MA with Northern Essex Community College in Haverhill, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northern Essex Community College is larger than Holyoke Community College based on total student enrollment (4,721 students vs. 4,200 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Holyoke Community College is located in Holyoke, MA (Rural Fringe setting); Northern Essex Community College is in Haverhill, MA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Holyoke Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Northern Essex Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Holyoke Community College 15:1; Northern Essex Community College 19:1.

Holyoke Community College vs. NECC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Holyoke Community College or NECC? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northern Essex Community College than Holyoke Community College ($6,049 vs. $8,253).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Holyoke Community College are 5.6% lower than at Northern Essex Community College ($11,330 vs. $12,003).
• Northern Essex Community College is 12.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than Holyoke Community College (about $744 more per year; $6,732.00 vs. $5,988.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 14.5% higher at NECC than at Holyoke Community College (about $1,584 more per year; $12,516.00 vs. $10,932.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Holyoke Community College than at Northern Essex Community College (73% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Essex Community College students is 2.7% larger than aid received by Holyoke Community College students ($6,990 vs. $6,806).

Holyoke Community College vs. NECC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Holyoke Community College or NECC? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between NECC and Holyoke Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Holyoke Community College - Open admission; NECC - Open admission.

Holyoke Community College vs. NECC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Holyoke Community College and NECC? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

• Graduates from Northern Essex Community College earn a median of about $1,600 more per year than Holyoke Community College graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,200 vs. $33,600), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Holyoke Community College graduates have a $1,238 lower median loan debt than NECC graduates ($7,700 vs. $8,938).
• Among borrowers, Holyoke Community College graduates have an estimated $13 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NECC graduates ($79 vs. $92).
• More Holyoke Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NECC students, three years after graduation. (49% vs. 47%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.