MassBay Community College vs. NECC

Comparable Facts

Compare Massachusetts Bay Community College in Wellesley Hills, 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 MassBay Community College based on total student enrollment (4,721 students vs. 4,578 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Massachusetts Bay Community College is located in Wellesley Hills, MA (Large Suburban setting); Northern Essex Community College is in Haverhill, MA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Massachusetts Bay 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: Massachusetts Bay Community College 16:1; Northern Essex Community College 19:1.

MassBay Community College vs. NECC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, MassBay 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 MassBay Community College ($6,049 vs. $7,420).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Massachusetts Bay Community College are 7.3% lower than at Northern Essex Community College ($11,124 vs. $12,003).
• Northern Essex Community College is 15% more expensive for in-state tuition than MassBay Community College (about $876 more per year; $6,732.00 vs. $5,856.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 15.9% higher at NECC than at Massachusetts Bay Community College (about $1,716 more per year; $12,516.00 vs. $10,800.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northern Essex Community College than at Massachusetts Bay Community College (67% vs. 60%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Northern Essex Community College students is 5.6% larger than aid received by Massachusetts Bay Community College students ($6,990 vs. $6,622).

MassBay Community College vs. NECC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, MassBay 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 MassBay Community College.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: MassBay Community College - Open admission; NECC - Open admission.
• Typical fall application deadline: MassBay Community College Aug 30, 2027.

MassBay Community College vs. NECC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for MassBay 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 Massachusetts Bay Community College earn a median of about $8,900 more per year than NECC graduates about ten years after starting college ($44,100 vs. $35,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Massachusetts Bay Community College graduates have a $2,241 lower median loan debt than NECC graduates ($6,697 vs. $8,938).
• Among borrowers, MassBay Community College graduates have an estimated $23 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NECC graduates ($69 vs. $92).
• More MassBay Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NECC students, three years after graduation. (58% 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.