Bunker Hill Community College vs Northern Essex Community College: which has better ROI?
Neither clears its cost on institution-wide earnings, but Bunker Hill Community College comes closer — median earnings $47,618 against a $15,636 total, vs $42,862 at Northern Essex Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Bunker Hill Community College | Northern Essex Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $7,818 | $6,046 |
| Total net cost | $15,636 | $12,092 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $47,618 | $42,862 |
| Median debt | $10,500 | $9,000 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$30,476 | -$122,052 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Bunker Hill Community College or Northern Essex Community College?
Northern Essex Community College, at $6,046 a year after aid versus $7,818 — a gap of $1,772 a year, or $3,544 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Bunker Hill Community College or Northern Essex Community College graduates earn more?
Bunker Hill Community College graduates report a median $47,618 ten years after entry, $4,756 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.
Which leaves students with less debt, Bunker Hill Community College or Northern Essex Community College?
Northern Essex Community College: its completers carry a median $9,000 in federal loans versus $10,500 at Bunker Hill Community College, a difference of $1,500. The figure counts students who finished; it excludes private loans and anyone who left before graduating.
Which graduates more of its students?
21% of students finish at Northern Essex Community College, against 13% at Bunker Hill 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.