Northern Essex Community College vs Berkshire Community College: which has better ROI?
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 $38,832 at Berkshire Community College. (Scorecard, 2026 · our math.)
| Measure | Northern Essex Community College | Berkshire Community College |
|---|---|---|
| Net price / yr | $6,046 | $9,921 |
| Total net cost | $12,092 | $19,842 |
| Median earnings, 10 yrs | $42,862 | $38,832 |
| Median debt | $9,000 | $12,053 |
| Payback | — | — |
| 20-year net return | -$122,052 | -$210,402 |
College Scorecard (2026), institution-level · payback and returns are our math. Figures blend all majors.
Which is cheaper, Northern Essex Community College or Berkshire Community College?
Northern Essex Community College, at $6,046 a year after aid versus $9,921 — a gap of $3,875 a year, or $7,750 across the full degree. These are net prices after grants and scholarships, not sticker prices, so they reflect what an aided student pays.
Do Northern Essex Community College or Berkshire Community College graduates earn more?
Northern Essex Community College graduates report a median $42,862 ten years after entry, $4,030 more than the $38,832 at Berkshire 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, Northern Essex Community College or Berkshire Community College?
Northern Essex Community College: its completers carry a median $9,000 in federal loans versus $12,053 at Berkshire Community College, a difference of $3,053. 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 20% at Berkshire 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.