Head-to-head comparison
Northern Essex Community College vs Anna Maria College: which has better ROI?
Option A Haverhill, MA
Northern Essex Community College
- Net price / year
- $6,046
- Earnings, 10 years
- $42,862
- Payback
- No payback
Option B Paxton, MA
Anna Maria College
- Net price / year
- $28,333
- Earnings, 10 years
- $46,651
- Payback
- No payback
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Northern Essex Community College comes closer — median earnings $42,862 against a $12,092 total, vs $46,651 at Anna Maria College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Northern Essex Community College | Anna Maria College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,046 | $28,333 |
| Total net cost | $12,092 | $113,332 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,862 | $46,651 |
| Median debt | $9,000 | $25,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$122,052 | -$147,512 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
The short answer
Which is cheaper, Northern Essex Community College or Anna Maria College?
Northern Essex Community College, at $6,046 a year after aid versus $28,333 — a gap of $22,287 a year, or $101,240 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
The short answer
Do Northern Essex Community College or Anna Maria College graduates earn more?
Anna Maria College graduates report a median $46,651 ten years after entry, $3,789 more than the $42,862 at Northern Essex Community College. Both are institution-wide medians from federal tax records, so a high-paying major at the lower school can beat the average at the higher one.
The short answer
Which leaves students with less debt, Northern Essex Community College or Anna Maria College?
Northern Essex Community College: its completers carry a median $9,000 in federal loans versus $25,000 at Anna Maria College, a difference of $16,000. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
The short answer
Which graduates more of its students?
46% of students finish at Anna Maria College, against 21% at Northern Essex Community College. Completion matters to the ROI arithmetic because a degree that is never finished still carries its cost and its debt, but earns none of the graduate premium above the $48,360 high-school baseline.