Middlesex Community College vs. NECC

Comparable Facts

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

Middlesex Community College is larger than NECC based on total student enrollment (9,374 students vs. 4,721 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Middlesex Community College is located in Bedford, MA (Large Suburban setting); Northern Essex Community College is in Haverhill, MA (Rural Fringe setting).
• Middlesex 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: Middlesex Community College 21:1; Northern Essex Community College 19:1.

Middlesex Community College vs. NECC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Middlesex 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 Middlesex Community College than NECC ($2,430 vs. $6,049).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Essex Community College are 7.7% lower than at Middlesex Community College ($12,003 vs. $13,000).
• Northern Essex Community College is 11.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Middlesex Community College (about $684 more per year; $6,732.00 vs. $6,048.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 3.3% higher at NECC than at Middlesex Community College (about $396 more per year; $12,516.00 vs. $12,120.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northern Essex Community College than at Middlesex Community College (67% vs. 63%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Middlesex Community College students is 6.1% larger than aid received by Northern Essex Community College students ($7,418 vs. $6,990).

Middlesex Community College vs. NECC Admissions comparison

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

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

Middlesex Community College vs. NECC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Middlesex 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 Middlesex Community College earn a median of about $2,300 more per year than NECC graduates about ten years after starting college ($37,500 vs. $35,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Middlesex Community College graduates have a $2,663 lower median loan debt than NECC graduates ($6,275 vs. $8,938).
• Among borrowers, Middlesex Community College graduates have an estimated $28 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NECC graduates ($64 vs. $92).
• More Middlesex Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NECC students, three years after graduation. (57% 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.