Catherine Greene got her start at UMass Lowell but transferred in to NECC, where she earned an accounting degree.

If you started college but found it wasn’t a good fit for any reason, Monzerrath (Monze) Stark-Magaña, Northern Essex Community College director of recruitment and admission, wants to talk with you.

“Many students get started somewhere else, but stop out for financial, academic, or other reasons,” says Stark.

Catherine Greene of Plaistow, NH is just one example. After graduating from Timberlane High School in 2012, she attended UMass Lowell, but she left after a couple of semesters to join the workforce, where she worked in accounts receivable and discovered a love of numbers.

In 2014, she decided to restart her college education, transferring her UMass Lowell credits to Northern Essex. While working full time, she earned an associate degree in accounting with high honors from Northern Essex in December of 2019. She plans to earn her bachelor’s in finance and accounting, while continuing to work full time in her field.

“We all mature, grow, and progress at different rates, and that’s okay. I’ve learned to never give up on my dreams and goals because no one else can accomplish them for me,” she says.

Steps for Transferring into Northern Essex

Students interested in transferring in are encouraged to apply and submit their official college transcripts to registrarpublic@necc.mass.edu. Once we receive the admission application and college transcripts our admission counselors will reach out and help students transition to NECC.

Enrolling students are required to take an assessment test that covers reading, writing, and math, but many students with prior college experience may have the test waived, based on courses they have already taken.  For example, a student who has successfully completed a college-level math class will not have to take the math assessment.

NECC will Accept Up to 36 Credits

Students can transfer a maximum of 36 credits into one of Northern Essex’s associate degree programs and up to 12 credits into a certificate program.

Most programs at Northern Essex are 60 credits, although some programs, such as computer science or engineering, require additional credits—up to 68.

Transfer After Earning an Associate Degree

Once a student has earned an associate degree, they can transfer from Northern Essex to their choice of colleges, public or private.

“Our grads go to 130 different colleges and universities after Northern Essex,” says Stark.

The MassTransfer Pathway provides a seamless transfer for students who are interested in transferring to any of the public college and universities in Massachusetts, including UMass Lowell, UMass Amherst, or Salem State.

The college also has transfers agreements with private colleges, such as Merrimack, Endicott, Regis, and Cambridge colleges.

By starting at Northern Essex and transferring to a four-year college, a student can save 40 percent or more on the cost of a bachelor’s degree, says Stark.

Spring Semester Starts January 20

It’s not too late to enroll for the spring semester, which starts January 20.  For additional information, call 978 556-3700, email admissions@necc.mass.edu, visit the website or connect with an admission counselor.

Northern Essex Community College has campuses in both Haverhill and Lawrence. It offers approximately 60 associate degree and certificate programs as well as hundreds of noncredit courses designed for personal enrichment and career growth.  Each year, 6,000 students are enrolled in credit associate degree and certificate programs on the Haverhill and Lawrence campuses; and another 2,000 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 or call 978-556-3700.