Health Services/Allied Health/Health Sciences at Northern Essex Community College

Northern Essex's Health Services program shows earnings that appear exceptional at first glance—$50,389 after one year ranks in the 95th percentile nationally—but the small sample size (under 30 graduates) and a puzzling earnings collapse demand caution. By year four, median earnings drop to $28,760, a 43% decline that's difficult to explain without knowing more about this cohort. This could reflect graduates moving out of state, switching careers, or simply statistical noise from tracking so few people. Among Massachusetts programs, that first-year number falls to the 60th percentile, meaning it's decent but not extraordinary in the state context—well behind Roxbury Community College's $45,769 median.

The $9,190 in typical debt is manageable, particularly against that strong first-year salary. If graduates can sustain something closer to their initial earnings, this program could represent solid value for students entering allied health fields. However, the dramatic income drop by year four raises real questions about career trajectory or whether this small sample is truly representative.

For parents, this means treating the data as preliminary rather than definitive. The low debt is encouraging, and Northern Essex serves a significant Pell-eligible population (33%), suggesting accessibility. But until we understand why earnings crater so dramatically—or whether a larger graduating class would tell a different story—it's impossible to say confidently whether this program delivers on its promising start.