NECC vs. STCC

Comparable Facts

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

Springfield Technical Community College is larger than NECC based on total student enrollment (5,447 students vs. 4,721 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Northern Essex Community College is located in Haverhill, MA (Rural Fringe setting); Springfield Technical Community College is in Springfield, MA (Midsize City setting).
• Northern Essex Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. Springfield Technical Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Northern Essex Community College 19:1; Springfield Technical Community College 18:1.

NECC vs. STCC Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, NECC or STCC? 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 Springfield Technical Community College than NECC ($5,957 vs. $6,049).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northern Essex Community College are 7% lower than at Springfield Technical Community College ($12,003 vs. $12,906).
• Northern Essex Community College is 14% more expensive for in-state tuition than STCC (about $828 more per year; $6,732.00 vs. $5,904.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 12.6% higher at NECC than at Springfield Technical Community College (about $1,404 more per year; $12,516.00 vs. $11,112.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Springfield Technical Community College than at Northern Essex Community College (77% vs. 67%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Springfield Technical Community College students is 28.3% larger than aid received by Northern Essex Community College students ($8,969 vs. $6,990).

NECC vs. STCC Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, NECC or STCC? 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 STCC and NECC.

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

NECC vs. STCC Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for NECC and STCC? 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 $1,000 more per year than STCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,200 vs. $34,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, Springfield Technical Community College graduates have a $3,438 lower median loan debt than NECC graduates ($5,500 vs. $8,938).
• Among borrowers, STCC graduates have an estimated $36 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NECC graduates ($56 vs. $92).
• More STCC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NECC students, three years after graduation. (52% 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.