Match #1
North Shore Community College
Danvers, MA
Profile closeness80/100
Admit rate—
- 4,393 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Graduation rate 22%, close to 14%
- Enrollment 4,393 students, close to 3,685
The colleges most similar to Northern Essex Community College are North Shore Community College, Quinsigamond Community College, and Massachusetts Bay Community College. Northern Essex Community College has an average net price of $6,427 a year; 5 of its 10 alternatives cost less, in the CollegesRef 2026–27 edition.
Profile closeness (0–100) compares graduation rate, size, admit rate, net price, Carnegie class, and control with Northern Essex Community College. The order also uses CollegesRef matching tiers, so a later match can score higher. Admit-rate bars use a 0–100% scale.
Top 10 alternatives to Northern Essex Community College
Row-wise results ranked by similarity. No curated AI list exists for this school.
Match #2
Quinsigamond Community College
Worcester, MA
Profile closeness78/100
Admit rate—
- 6,447 students
- Public
- City: Midsize
- Graduation rate 20%, close to 14%
- Average net price $6,588, close to $6,427
Match #3
Massachusetts Bay Community College
Wellesley Hills, MA
Profile closeness77/100
Admit rate—
- 3,837 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Graduation rate 17%, close to 14%
- Enrollment 3,837 students, close to 3,685
Match #4
Massasoit Community College
Brockton, MA
Profile closeness76/100
Admit rate—
- 4,235 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Graduation rate 16%, close to 14%
- Enrollment 4,235 students, close to 3,685
Match #5
Holyoke Community College
Holyoke, MA
Profile closeness75/100
Admit rate—
- 3,591 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Enrollment 3,591 students, close to 3,685
- Average net price $6,427, close to $6,427
Match #6
Berkshire Community College
Pittsfield, MA
Profile closeness73/100
Admit rate—
- 1,358 students
- Public
- Rural: Fringe
- Graduation rate 17%, close to 14%
- Average net price $8,257, close to $6,427
Match #7
Cape Cod Community College
West Barnstable, MA
Profile closeness73/100
Admit rate—
- 2,911 students
- Public
- City: Small
- Enrollment 2,911 students, close to 3,685
- Average net price $7,964, close to $6,427
Match #8
Mount Wachusett Community College
Gardner, MA
Profile closeness73/100
Admit rate—
- 3,059 students
- Public
- Rural: Fringe
- Graduation rate 21%, close to 14%
- Enrollment 3,059 students, close to 3,685
Match #9
Middlesex Community College-Massachusetts
Bedford, MA
Profile closeness72/100
Admit rate—
- 5,412 students
- Public
- Suburb: Large
- Graduation rate 21%, close to 14%
- Enrollment 5,412 students, close to 3,685
Match #10
Bunker Hill Community College
Boston, MA
Profile closeness71/100
Admit rate—
- 8,612 students
- Public
- City: Large
- Graduation rate 15%, close to 14%
- Average net price $5,976, close to $6,427
Questions about Northern Essex Community College alternatives
What colleges are similar to Northern Essex Community College?
The closest matches to Northern Essex Community College are North Shore Community College, Quinsigamond Community College, Massachusetts Bay Community College, Massasoit Community College, and Holyoke Community College. CollegesRef ranks them on admissions, cost, graduation rate, size, and campus profile using IPEDS and College Scorecard data.
Which Northern Essex Community College alternatives cost less?
5 of the 10 closest alternatives have a lower average net price than Northern Essex Community College ($6,427 a year), including Massachusetts Bay Community College ($1,756), Middlesex Community College-Massachusetts ($3,970), and Mount Wachusett Community College ($4,452). Net price is what first-time, full-time students paid after grants; your own price depends on family income.
