A college's ethnic diversity is indicated by the student body's equal inclusion of students from different backgrounds . Students at NECC are predominantly White with a significant Hispanic population. The school has very high racial diversity. 50% percent of students are minorities or people of color (BIPOC). The ethnic breakdown is detailed in the following table.
Northern Essex Community College has been designated as a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) and is eligible for federal grants supporting the school's efforts to serve Hispanic Americans.
| Race | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| White |
50%
|
| Black |
4%
|
| Hispanic |
41%
|
| Asian |
2%
|
| American Indian / Alaskan |
0%
|
| Hawaiian / Pacific Islander |
0%
|
| Two or more races |
1%
|
| International |
1%
|
| Race Unknown |
1%
|
There are 70% more female students than male students enrolled at Northern Essex Community College with a gender ratio of 63% women to 37% men. Compared to the US average of 56% female students, NECC has a lower gender diversity than other US colleges and is less inclusive of males.
| Gender | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
37%
|
| Women |
63%
|
| Gender | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| Men |
1,608
|
| Women |
2,731
|
NECC serves a very low number of students outside of Massachusetts, with 92 percent of the student body residing in-state.
| Origin | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| In State |
92%
|
| Out of State |
8%
|
| Foreign |
0%
|
| Unknown Location |
0%
|
41% of students can be considered low-income as indicated by their receipt of Federal Pell Grant Aid.
| Segment | Percent of Students |
|---|---|
| Students Over 25 Years Old | 34.3% |
| Part time Undergrads | 63.3% |
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=167376 IPEDS survey data for Northern Essex Community College.