HAVERHILL — A new joint admissions agreement between Northern Essex Community College and Merrimack College will provide NECC students with more seamless pathways to continue their education after graduating with their associate degrees, according to officials at both schools.
Under the agreement, students who opt-in are conditionally accepted to Merrimack College when they are accepted to NECC. Once a student graduates from NECC, they can begin the transfer process. Merrimack College will provide a designated transfer admissions counselor for graduates of NECC, who will receive priority for Merrimack merit scholarships.
“Now more than ever, we must ensure that any student who dreams of earning an associate degree and bachelor’s degree can do so,” said Merrimack College President Christopher E. Hopey, Ph.D. “And this agreement will make that dream more accessible to more students. We know first-hand the transformative impact higher education can have on its students and the communities they go on to serve.”
During the event, Hopey also announced that NECC students who transfer to Merrimack College after they earn their associate’s degree will receive up to a $10,000 scholarship, or a $5,000 scholarship if they enroll in the bachelor in humanities program.
Merrimack College and NECC have enjoyed a long-standing partnership focused on accessibility and opportunities for learners in the Merrimack Valley and beyond. Over the past five years alone, about 400 NECC students have transferred to Merrimack College, according to officials.
The institutions have worked to grow early college programs and are exploring the establishment of an innovation corridor in the Merrimack Valley.
“Merrimack remembers its roots,” said NECC President Lane Glenn. “Merrimack remembers the importance of service to our communities and ensuring accessibility to and affordability of a high-quality education. This joint admissions agreement is another significant step forward because it makes the process much simpler.”
NECC has joint admission agreements with four additional institutions: Salem State University, UMass-Lowell, Regis College and Emmanuel College.