BCC vs. North Shore Community College

Comparable Facts

Compare Berkshire Community College in Pittsfield, MA with North Shore Community College in Danvers, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

North Shore Community College is larger than BCC based on total student enrollment (5,743 students vs. 1,694 students).

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

• Berkshire Community College is located in Pittsfield, MA (Rural Fringe setting); North Shore Community College is in Danvers, MA (Large Suburban setting).
• Berkshire Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution. North Shore Community College is a public, non-profit 2-year institution.
• Student-to-faculty ratio: Berkshire Community College 10:1; North Shore Community College 16:1.

BCC vs. North Shore Community College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, BCC or North Shore Community College? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

• The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Berkshire Community College than North Shore Community College ($9,660 vs. $9,875).
• Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at North Shore Community College are 22.5% lower than at Berkshire Community College ($13,750 vs. $17,750).
• Berkshire Community College is 15.2% more expensive for in-state tuition than North Shore Community College (about $812 more per year; $6,164.00 vs. $5,352.00).
• Out-of-state tuition is 5% higher at BCC than at North Shore Community College (about $548 more per year; $11,468.00 vs. $10,920.00).
• A larger share of students receive grant aid at Berkshire Community College than at North Shore Community College (86% vs. 68%).
• The average total grant financial aid received by Berkshire Community College students is 29.6% larger than aid received by North Shore Community College students ($8,299 vs. $6,402).

BCC vs. North Shore Community College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, BCC or North Shore Community College? Typical SAT and ACT scores (midpoint estimates from the mid-50% ranges in the table above), enrolled-tester score ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between North Shore Community College and BCC.

• Both colleges report an open admissions policy; selectivity can still vary by program or major.
• Submitting SAT or ACT scores: BCC - Open admission; North Shore Community College - Open admission.

BCC vs. North Shore Community College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for BCC and North Shore Community College? Where federal data is available for both schools, the bullets below compare graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt using the same College Scorecard / IPEDS fields as the comparison table. If a metric is missing for one school, that school is noted separately.

• Graduates from North Shore Community College earn a median of about $1,700 more per year than BCC graduates about ten years after starting college ($35,600 vs. $33,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
• Among federal student loan borrowers, North Shore Community College graduates have a $1,500 lower median loan debt than BCC graduates ($9,000 vs. $10,500).
• Among borrowers, North Shore Community College graduates have an estimated $15 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than BCC graduates ($93 vs. $108).
• More North Shore Community College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former BCC students, three years after graduation. (50% vs. 44%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.