Dr. Michael D. Hammond President | Gordon College
Dr. Michael D. Hammond President | Gordon College
Of the 11 institutions in the county, four provided detailed enrollment data at the time, including Endicott College, Gordon College and Merrimack College.
At least 25,093 people applied to Essex County colleges in the 2022-23 school year.
NCES data shows that among them, around 27,636 students enrolled in the universities, including 23,578 in undergraduate and 4,058 in graduate programs. Only 4.4% of undergraduates transferred from another college or university.
The reported undergraduate student body is comprised mostly of white (56.8%) and Hispanic (23.9%) students.
Among the institutions that provided disclosed enrollment data, Salem State University stood out with the largest enrollment at the time, welcoming 6,539 students.
U.S. college enrollment has been in a downward trend since peaking at around 18.1 million students in 2010. Recent increases offered some relief, but experts project a steeper decline in 2025.
This decline is likely due to two main factors. First, the pool of young adults is shrinking as birth rates have fallen nearly 23% between 2007 and 2022. Second, the rising cost of higher education, including skyrocketing student loan debt. A 2023 Wall Street Journal report shows that more than half of Americans think a four-year degree is not worth the cost.
NCES shows that enrollment data was not available for two institutions in Essex County, including Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and Massachusetts School of Law.
Some educational data is based on estimates. Shifting demographics among student populations can sometimes result in gender totals which do not equal 100%.
| Institution | # of Applicants | # of Admitted Students | Total Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary | -- | -- | -- |
| New England Tractor Trailer Training School of Massachusetts | -- | -- | 707 |
| Salem State University | 5,093 | 4,736 | 6,539 |
| Montserrat College of Art | -- | -- | 296 |
| Merrimack College | 13,175 | 9,881 | 5,505 |
| North Shore Community College | -- | -- | 4,391 |
| Endicott College | 5,430 | 3,964 | 4,006 |
| Gordon College | 1,395 | 1,283 | 1,628 |
| Northern Essex Community College | -- | -- | 4,339 |
| Massachusetts School of Law | -- | -- | -- |
| Northpoint Bible College | -- | -- | 225 |
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