Public
Accredited · New England Commission on Higher Education
Danvers, Massachusetts
North Shore Community College — Admission Snapshot 2026
A complete at-a-glance picture of every metric that matters for your 2026 application
$13,204Annual Cost
$45,391Grad Salary
33.2%Pell Grant
Selectivity
Open Enrollment
Institution Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Accredited By
New England Commission on Higher Education
SAT Middle 50%
-40–30
Avg Net Price
$7,321
Need-Based Aid
33.2% receive Pell
North Shore Community College MA North Shore Community College serves students throughout northeastern Massachusetts through transfer education, workforce training, and continuing education programs. Many students begin at NSCC before transferring to universities across Massachusetts and New England.\n\nThe college is particularly strong in healthcare, business, information technology, public service, and liberal arts programs. Affordable tuition and strong support services make it an attractive option for a wide range of learners.
North Shore Community College Acceptance Rate
North Shore Community College runs an open-access admission policy — with a 100% acceptance rate, the focus is on getting qualified students in, not filtering them out.
What to Expect
- Eligibility First: A high school diploma or GED typically clears the main bar.
- Plan Ahead for Placement: Placement tests can shape which courses you start in — worth preparing for.
Selectivity at a Glance
Open Enrollment
Selectivity scale: Open Enrollment — rate not reported
Most Selective (0%)Open Enrollment (100%)
Slightly below-average GPA? A strong test score or clear leadership track record can still keep you competitive.
Source: IPEDS & College Scorecard (Nov 2025).
North Shore Community College Application Deadlines & Admission Dates 2026
North Shore Community College follows a Rolling Admissions policy, meaning applications are reviewed as they arrive and there is no single fixed deadline.
Key Admission Dates
Rolling Admissions — Apply Anytime
North Shore Community College reviews applications continuously throughout the year. Seats and scholarships are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis, so applying early gives you a significant advantage for both admission and financial aid.
💡 The scholarship deadline (March 1, 2026) often falls before the regular admission deadline. Submit your application and FAFSA early to be considered for maximum aid.
Deadlines are verified from official institutional sources but may change each cycle. Always confirm final dates on the official website.
Check Your Admission Chances at North Shore Community College
Admission Chance Predictor
Real-Time Sensitive Analysis — based on North Shore Community College's verified institutional data
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Calculating Profile...
Adjust the sliders to see how every decimal point affects your outcome.
Your SAT Score 1200
Your Unweighted GPA 3.00
⚠️ Note: Predicting based on regional averages as this institution does not publicly report full score datasets.
Calculated via College Portal's Human-Intelligence (HI) Methodology & Editorial Standards. Verified by Sohaib Ahmad Khan.
North Shore Community College Test Requirements
Standardized scores still matter here: aim for the middle 50% range of the 2026 admitted class below, and if North Shore Community College is test-optional, a high score submitted voluntarily still helps with merit scholarships.
Can I Get Into North Shore Community College Without SAT or ACT?
North Shore Community College's test-score policy isn't published. As a default, submit your score only if it's at or above the state/national average — a below-average score can work against you.
Your 2026 Admissions Roadmap for North Shore Community College
Inclusive Strategy: Success & Transfer
North Shore Community College's open-access model means the real strategic decisions happen after enrollment: course planning, advising, and whether to transfer later.
Check program-specific open/closed status before building your entire application timeline - cycles close for the year, not just fill up gradually
NSCC explicitly and publicly marks its Nurse Education, Practical Nursing, and LPN-to-RN Advanced Placement applications as fully "CLOSED" once a cycle's window ends (for example, Fall 2026 Nurse Education was closed with all information sessions for that cycle already concluded) - this isn't a soft "space may be limited" message but a hard stop for that entire admissions year. Before planning coursework or a moving timeline around a specific nursing track, check the live status on NSCC's own program page first, since building a semester-by-semester plan around a cycle that's already closed wastes real time.
Arrive on time to the mandatory information session - NSCC enforces a strict 5-minute late cutoff with recorded attendance
Every NSCC nursing track (Nurse Education, Practical Nursing, LPN-to-RN) requires attending a mandatory Information Session before applying, and NSCC states explicitly that late arrivals of 5+ minutes will not be admitted to the session and must attend a future one - with attendance formally recorded. Because sessions run on a limited monthly-ish schedule between specific months (e.g., August 2025-May 2026 for Nurse Education), missing one by even a few minutes can cost you a meaningful chunk of your application timeline waiting for the next offered date, not just a minor inconvenience.
Write your required nursing essay to explicitly answer all three embedded questions - not just the general theme
NSCC's nursing application essay (1-2 pages, word-processed) is built around three specific sub-questions bundled into one prompt: why you want a nursing career, what qualities make you a good candidate, and what specific strategies you'll use to ensure success in the program. Structure your essay to visibly address all three components (not just a general "why nursing" narrative), since reviewers are working from a checklist-style prompt and an essay that only addresses one of the three questions reads as incomplete regardless of writing quality.
If you're a BSN holder or Massachusetts resident using Free College funding, know exactly what does and doesn't apply to you
Bachelor of Science degree holders who completed Anatomy & Physiology I & II within the last 10 years with a C or better have their TEAS requirement waived entirely - a genuine shortcut worth confirming if you already hold an unrelated bachelor's degree. Separately, Massachusetts's MassEducate/MassReconnect programs cover tuition and fees for most residents without a bachelor's degree, but note the Aviation Science Professional Pilot program's flight fees are explicitly NOT covered by Free College funding - a real, named exception if aviation is your intended program.
Expert Insight:
Because NSCC's general admission is open and its Free Community College funding (MassEducate/MassReconnect) removes tuition as a barrier for most Massachusetts residents, applicants sometimes assume nursing admission is similarly accessible once cost isn't an obstacle. It's a completely separate, capacity-constrained Selective Admissions process with its own closing dates, mandatory in-person or Zoom information sessions with strict attendance rules, a required multi-part essay, and TEAS score minimums that vary by exact subsection (Reading 69%, Math 73%, Science 50%, English 66.7%) - cost being solved doesn't mean a seat is available or that you're competitively positioned for one.
North Shore Community College Profile
Full Name
North Shore Community College
City
Danvers
State
Massachusetts
ZIP Code
01923-0840
Type
Public
Campus
Main Campus
Official Website
Accredited By
New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE)
Is a North Shore Community College Degree Worth It?
North Shore Community College offers a rigorous academic environment, but 'worth it' is a personal calculation of cost, program fit, and outcomes — the figures below are a starting point.
The average household income among admitted students is $65,000, with a graduate unemployment rate of 3.31%.
How much does a degree from North Shore Community College Cost?
The sticker price is $13,204/year, but the average net price students actually pay — after Pell and federal grants — is closer to $7,321.
33.2% of students receive a Pell Grant and 14.1% take federal loans at North Shore Community College — file your FAFSA early and list North Shore Community College as a choice to be considered for both.
How much does a North Shore Community College Graduate earn?
Median earnings 10 years after enrollment (roughly 4–6 years post-graduation) are $45,391 — about 12% above the U.S. median graduate income.
Degree Programs at North Shore Community College
Associate Degree Programs
Frequently Asked Questions About North Shore Community College Admissions
Median earnings for North Shore Community College graduates sit around $45,391 a year.
At about $13,204 a year, North Shore Community College is on the more affordable end.
About 33.2% receive a Pell Grant at North Shore Community College — moderate odds, largely income-dependent, but an early FAFSA filing still helps.
North Shore Community College follows Rolling Admissions — applications are reviewed year-round, so applying early is your best strategy.
The scholarship/financial aid priority deadline is March 1, 2026. Submit FAFSA before then for maximum consideration.
Yes — transfers are common. Have transcripts, recommendation letters, and a solid personal statement ready to make your case.
Strong academics, a focused extracurricular profile, and standout essays move the needle most — along with a competitive SAT/ACT score where relevant.
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