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Haverhill, Massachusetts (cropped)Photo: Quintin Soloviev · CC BY 4.0
Colleges in and near Haverhill

Haverhill is home to Northern Essex Community College

Northern Essex Community College (3,674 students on campus) is inside the city. About 4% of Haverhill’s residents are enrolled in college, below Massachusetts (8%).

Northern Essex Community College

From the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard, June 2026; IPEDS fall 2023 enrollment) and the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 2020–24. Straight-line distances from the center of Haverhill. Colleges are described, not graded.

Within 15 miles
4
12,541 students on campus
Nearest college
2.2 mi
Northern Essex
Residents in college
4%
Below MA (8%)
Nearest community college
2.2 mi
Northern Essex · $6,732 tuition
Nearest public university
15.1 mi
University of Massachusetts-Lowell · $16,966 in-state
Median household income
$88K
prices below start here

What stands out about college in Haverhill

Facts about the town and its distance to campus; each college’s own figures follow.

A community college in HaverhillNorthern Essex Community College has 3,674 students on campus in Haverhill, 21% of whom graduate within three years.In-state price at University of Massachusetts-LowellLiving in Massachusetts, the University of Massachusetts-Lowell charges $16,966 in tuition and fees; from out of state, $36,264. State residency rules decide which a new arrival pays.Students are 4% of residentsBelow Massachusetts (8%). The Census counts anyone enrolled, including part-time and online students.
Every college

Colleges within 15 miles of Haverhill

Two private colleges within 9 miles, and two community colleges. The nearest public four-year college, University of Massachusetts-Lowell, is 15.1 miles away.

5 mi10 mi15 miMerrimack CollegeNorth ShoreNorthern EssexHaverhill
University or collegeCommunity college
Northern Essex Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,674 on campus · In Haverhill$6knet price21%graduate$43kearningsTuition and fees: $6,732 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.Merrimack CollegeUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 4,664 on campus · 8.1 mi · North Andover70%admitted$38knet price70%graduate$76kearningsMassachusetts School of LawUniversity or college · Private nonprofit · 284 on campus · 9 mi · AndoverGraduate students only; the Scorecard reports no undergraduate figures.North Shore Community CollegeCommunity college · Public · 3,919 on campus · 14.6 mi · Danvers$9knet price18%graduate$45kearningsTuition and fees: $5,352 a year. The net price counts housing and food at full cost.

Degree-granting colleges with 100 or more students on campus (fall 2023 enrollment, minus students who study only online). Admitted: share of applicants offered a place. Net price: the average a year after grants, for students on federal aid. Graduate: within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting.

What it costs

What would your family pay?

The average a year after grants, for families on federal aid, at the colleges within 15 miles and the nearest public four-year college. Pick your family’s income.

Family income

Starts at $75–110k, where Haverhill’s median household income ($88,326) falls.

Northern Essex Community CollegeIn Haverhill · sticker $13,201 · tuition $6,732$6,628a year
North Shore Community College14.6 mi · Danvers · sticker $15,896 · tuition $5,352$9,966a year
University of Massachusetts-Lowell15.1 mi · Lowell · sticker $30,786$16,460a year
Merrimack College8.1 mi · North Andover · sticker $70,038$36,045a year

The average a year after grants and scholarships, for first-time, full-time students on federal aid, from the College Scorecard. Your own price depends on your aid package; every college has a net price calculator. For community colleges the net price counts housing and food at full cost, so tuition is shown beside it. “—”: not reported for that income.

Outcomes

Do students finish, and does it pay?

Each dot is a college: across is the share who graduate, up is what they earn ten years after starting.

$0$20k$40k$60k$80k0%25%50%75%100%Graduate →Northern EssexMerrimack CollegeNorth ShoreUniversity of Massachusetts-Lowell
University of Massachusetts-Lowell65% graduate$65k earnings$24k typical debt
Merrimack College70% graduate$76k earnings$27k typical debt
North Shore Community College18% graduate$45k earnings$9k typical debt
Northern Essex Community College21% graduate$43k earnings$9k typical debt

Graduation: first-time, full-time students within 6 years (4-year colleges) or 3 years (2-year). Earnings: median, 10 years after starting, for students who got federal aid.

Majors

What students study in Haverhill

Share of bachelor’s and associate degrees by field at Northern Essex Community College, weighted by undergraduates; then the biggest programs.

Health professions 33%Business 18%Liberal arts 17%Engineering tech 8%Computer science 7%Public safety 4%Everything else 14%

Biggest programs

Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities89 graduates a year
$47k4 yrs out
Business/Commerce, General63 graduates a year
$57k4 yrs out
Criminal Justice and Corrections25 graduates a year
$52k4 yrs out
Mental and Social Health Services and Allied Professions25 graduates a year
$45k4 yrs out
Computer and Information Sciences, General24 graduates a year
$64k4 yrs out
Allied Health Diagnostic, Intervention, and Treatment Professions24 graduates a year
$76k4 yrs out
Business Administration, Management and Operations24 graduates a year
$54k4 yrs out
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians, Other23 graduates a year
$70k4 yrs out

College Scorecard: degree shares (PCIP; each college’s six largest fields are kept, the rest count as everything else) and the field-of-study file, median earnings 4 years after graduating.

Questions about college in Haverhill

Is Haverhill a college town?

No. About 4 of every 100 Haverhill residents are enrolled in college (Census, 2020–24), below Massachusetts (8). The largest campus in the city, Northern Essex Community College, has 3,674 students on campus.

What colleges are in Haverhill?

Northern Essex Community College is inside the city.

What is the closest community college to Haverhill, and what does it cost?

Northern Essex Community College in Haverhill, 2.2 miles away. Tuition and fees are $6,732 a year for Massachusetts residents; the federal net price, $6,046, counts housing and food at full cost.

How much does the University of Massachusetts-Lowell cost if we live in Massachusetts?

Tuition and fees are $16,966 a year in-state and $36,264 from out of state. After grants, families on federal aid paid an average of $9,943 (under $30,000 income) to $26,139 (over $110,000), housing and food included.

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Colleges: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard and IPEDS (Scorecard 06/10/2026 · IPEDS 2024 · fall 2023 enrollment). “On campus” is fall enrollment minus students who study only online. Distances are straight-line from the center of Haverhill. Residents in college, age, rent and poverty (including poverty without college students, table B14006): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–24. Colleges are described, not graded; the College town label marks towns where 15% or more of residents are enrolled. How TownRatings describes colleges →