Situated in Haverhill and Lawrence, Massachusetts, Northern Essex Community College may be considered one of the top community colleges within Massachusetts when it comes to athletics and academics, but it may owe this spectacle to the positive reception it handles from their student body, past or present, and the figures that help shape their budding community.
One key factor that may highlight the reception behind Northern Essex is the comfortability of proximity, as stated by Nellysha Martinez, a current Art & Design student at NECC from Lawrence, Massachusetts.
“The greatest appeal of NECC that I found was how close it was to home,” stated Martinez. “The Lawrence campus was the closest to me, but, ironically, I ended up taking my first classes at the Haverhill campus and being split between both campuses.” Martinez also commented on how the addition of free public transportation, such as the MVRTA buses, are essential in their continuation to further learn at NECC.
Another positive factor to showcase regarding NECC is their affordability, especially for students who transfer into the institution due to financial burdens at previous colleges and universities. Haverhill’s Jason Almanzar, a 2017 graduate of NECC who originally attended Providence College, cited NECC as a safe option when it comes to issues of paying for tuition.
“I view NECC as a more cost-effective option over traditional four-year universities,” expressed Almanzar. “The total cost of attendance reduced my education by over 80% and allowed me to continuously work towards my degree without the fear of sudden interruptions due to financial issues.” Almanzar also noted the variety of majors available at NECC to be beneficial in choosing what to pursue once he transitioned back into a four-year university.
Furthermore, regarding the topic of affordability, Lawrence’s Germinudy Lopez, who has had her children attend NECC over the years and was a former student herself, elaborates on how NECC can be seen in the perspective of a parental figure.
“As a parent, I can say that the school is affordable and gives students different opportunities,” detailed Lopez, who quotes her own experiences at NECC as a gateway for her children to consider the school once college application season is on the rise.
