Northern Essex Community College (NECC) vs Southern Maine Community College (SMCC)

Northern Essex Community College (NECC) and Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) stand out as two prominent community colleges in their respective regions, offering diverse academic programs and opportunities for higher education. While both institutions share a commitment to providing accessible and affordable education, they differ in several key aspects. NECC boasts a higher acceptance rate, making it a more accessible option for students seeking admission. SMCC, on the other hand, offers a wider range of popular majors, including programs in health professions and engineering technologies. Additionally, the student body demographics and graduation rates vary between the two colleges, reflecting their unique characteristics and strengths. Explore the comprehensive comparison table below to delve into the details and discover which institution aligns best with your academic aspirations and goals.
Northern Essex Community College logo

Northern Essex Community College

Southern Maine Community College logo

Southern Maine Community College

Overview

Location Haverhill, Massachusetts South Portland, Maine
Campus setting Suburb: Large City: Small
College type 2 year 2 year
Control/business model Public Public
Calendar system Semester Semester
Degrees offered Undergraduate Undergraduate
Students retention rate 53.0% 53.0%
Common app member No No
Religious affiliation

Admission

Acceptance rate Open Admission Open Admission
Application fees
SAT range N/A N/A
ACT range N/A N/A
Students submitting SAT score
Students submitting ACT score
Total number of applicants
Total number of admissions given out
Admitted students who chose to enroll
Yield rate
Test scores (SAT/ACT) Not required Not required
High school GPA N/A N/A
Recommendation letters N/A N/A
High school transcript N/A N/A
English proficiency test (e.g. TOEFL) N/A N/A

Tuition and Fees

Sticker price
In state: $22,584

Out of state: $28,368
In state: $19,060

Out of state: $21,940
Average net price $7,753 $10,245
Tuition
In state: $600

Out of state: $6,384
In state: $2,880

Out of state: $5,760
Room & board
Room/dormitory: $6,688

Meal plan: $3,450
Available payment plans
  • Tuition payment plan
  • Tuition payment plan

Financial Aid

Students receiving financial aid

(Grants & scholarships)

69.0%
Average amount $4,769
70.0%
Average amount $5,888
Students receiving federal student loan 13.0%
Average amount $3,322
22.0%
Average amount $4,399
Students taking out private loans 1.0%
Average amount $6,930
0.0%
Average amount $0

Students and Campus

Undergraduate students 4,770
Men 34.4% Women 65.6%
5,435
Men 43.8% Women 56.2%
Graduate students N/A N/A
Racial/ethnic diversity
Moderate
Low
Out-of-state students N/A 10.8%
International students 0.9% 0.7%
Campus local/setting Suburb: Large City: Small
Dormitory capacity N/A 555
First year students are required to live on campus? N/A No
Top 5 states where most U.S. students come from Mississippi New Hampshire Connecticut Florida New York Maine New Hampshire Connecticut Vermont Maryland

Academics

Popular study areas
  • Health Professions
  • Business
  • Liberal Arts
  • Computer and Information Science
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
  • Health Professions
  • Liberal Arts
  • Business
  • Law Enforcement and Firefighting
  • Computer and Information Science
Students to faculty ratio 20:1 16:1
Institutional accreditation New England Commission on Higher Education New England Commission on Higher Education

Outcome

Graduation rate 14.4% 22.1%
Dropout rate 55.5% 49.0%
Transferred out 11.8% 17.9%
Alumni salary by major (Top 10)
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $59,742
  • Year 2: $65,905
  • Year 3: $74,336
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $50,816
  • Year 2: $53,179
  • Year 3: $56,134
Computer and Information Sciences, General (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $41,228
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $50,699
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $36,616
  • Year 2: N/A
  • Year 3: $41,881
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $37,962
  • Year 2: $35,060
  • Year 3: $38,452
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: $30,206
  • Year 2: $30,228
  • Year 3: $35,993
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $32,036
  • Year 2: $29,685
  • Year 3: $33,330
Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences, General (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $33,770
  • Year 2: $31,423
  • Year 3: $31,985
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $31,763
  • Year 3: $31,288
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $25,194
  • Year 3: $30,533
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $56,724
  • Year 2: $56,351
  • Year 3: $60,417
Fire Protection (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $53,775
  • Year 3: $57,099
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $55,264
  • Year 2: $50,856
  • Year 3: $55,869
Precision Metal Working (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $44,170
  • Year 3: $53,258
Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: N/A
  • Year 2: $42,235
  • Year 3: $52,055
Electrical Engineering Technologies/Technicians (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $48,245
  • Year 2: $49,644
  • Year 3: $46,880
Criminal Justice and Corrections (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $35,055
  • Year 2: $35,274
  • Year 3: $39,421
Business Administration, Management and Operations (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $33,120
  • Year 2: $30,409
  • Year 3: $34,075
Culinary Arts and Related Services (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $32,093
  • Year 2: $29,322
  • Year 3: $33,350
Allied Health and Medical Assisting Services (Associate's Degrees)
  • Year 1: $34,219
  • Year 2: $30,771
  • Year 3: $32,474