Have you been putting off registering for college due to a lack of funds?

If yes, we have some good news for you.

It’s not too late to apply for financial support from Northern Essex Community College, even if you’re enrolling for this fall, which is just weeks away.

“We have federal and institutional money available, and we would love to give it to students,” said Alexis Fishbone, Northern Essex’s associate dean of enrollment services and chief financial officer.  “We have funding to cover tuition and fees, personal costs, and books, and we even have funding designated for new students.”

Fishbone also shared that the state recently added an additional $7.1 million in need-based scholarship assistance for full-time and part-time students at community colleges and that money will soon be available for students enrolled this fall.  “This is the largest increase in need-based assistance in over a decade,” said Fishbone. “And we’re thrilled it includes funding for our part-time students since 65 percent of our students are part time.”

Prospective students interested in learning how much financial aid is available to them are encouraged to contact the college’s financial aid office, before Wednesday, August 22, if possible.

The college has financial aid offices in Haverhill (Behrakis One Stop Student Service Center, 100 Elliott St) and Lawrence (El-Hefni Allied Health & Technology Center, 414 Common St).  Both are open Monday, 9 am to 5 pm, Tuesday, 9 am to 6:30 pm, Wednesday, 9 am to 6:30 pm, and Thursday, 9 am to 5 pm.  The Haverhill Office is open Friday, 9 am to 4:30 pm, and the Lawrence Office is open Friday noon to 4:30 pm.  For additional information, call 978 556-3700, email sfs@necc.mass.edu, or visit the college’s financial aid website.

With campuses in Haverhill and Lawrence, Northern Essex Community College offers over 60 associate degree and certificate programs as well as hundreds of noncredit courses designed for personal enrichment and career growth.  Each year, close to 8,000 students are enrolled in credit associate degree and certificate programs on the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses; and another 2,600 take noncredit workforce development and community education classes on campus, and at businesses and community sites across the Merrimack Valley.  For more information, visit the website at www.necc.mass.edu.