In this series, Tess Anderson looks back on news events impacting the NEC community and provides an update.
College Costs at NEC
In September 1973, The NewEnglander reported that the costs for NEC students had increased. “Over the past four years NEC has jumped from $2,900 per year to an outrageous $4,110 for the overall costs of housing, food, health and activities fees, and tuition.”
In just four years there was a 30% increase in tuition costs.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, $4,110 in 1973 is equivalent to $29,458 in 2025 purchasing power.
In 2025, tuition, housing, food, and health fees for an academic year at NEC are around $60,584 to $64,724, according to the school website. The tuition alone is $41,584 a year. The New England College website states that “The average tuition for a bachelor’s degree AFTER scholarships and financial aid is about $12,500 per year.”
Given the total cost of college in 1973, and the cost of attendance in 2025 with the updated average cost of tuition, NEC students today pay a few thousand dollars more than in 1973. New England College students today pay roughly $35,000 with scholarships and financial aid.
If we look at the numbers provided by NEC and The NewEnglander, it seems that NEC students are paying a little more today than in the 1970’s.
NEC alumni appear to have paid a similar amount in college costs to today’s NEC students, despite the fact that $4,110 seems like a low price for attending college, an amount that many NEC students would gladly take over the current cost of attendance.
It also seems like NEC students, and many college students throughout the country, are still frustrated about the rising cost of college. It is a testament to the fact that college students remain surprisingly unchanged in their struggles, despite five decades; we have shared a common and unifying concern of the cost of college.
Israel/Palestine Conflict
Since October 7, 2023, the conflict between Israel and Palestine has escalated drastically, with around 1,200 Israelis and more than 66,000 Palestinians dead. Palestine has continued to push for recognition of statehood from the U.N., especially by the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, since The NewEnglander reported on the same issue in September of 2011.
In 2012, Palestine was granted status in the U.N. but only as a non-member observer. Since October 2023, the U.N. has been active in its concern over the war, particularly whether Palestinians are receiving aid and if Israel is committing a genocide against the Palestinian people.
In May of 2024, the General Assembly gave Palestine an upgraded status to observer state, which has given them more privileges than their previous status.
The current events occurring in Gaza has brought about a renewed push for Palestine’s statehood. Just last month a United Nations commission of Inquiry said that Israel is committing a genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza. With September hosting the 80th United Nations General Assembly, the issue of Palestinian statehood is becoming a major topic of contention.
As of September 23, 2025, 157 of the 193 UN members have supported the recognition of a Palestinian state. The United States continues to oppose the bid for Palestinian statehood.
During President Donald Trump’s General Assembly speech, he was firmly against other Western nations that are supporting this recognition. Trump said regarding giving Palestine statehood that “the rewards would be too great for Hamas terrorists for their atrocities.”
As of October 14, 2025, a ceasefire agreement has been implemented with help from President Donald Trump and other leaders in Egypt, Turkey, and Qatar. This agreement has led to a hostage exchange with 2,000 Palestinians released and 20 living hostages from Hamas.
The question of Palestinian statehood remains. When asked if this new ceasefire agreement meant that President Donald Trump endorsed the recognition of Palestinian statehood, Trump said, “I’m not talking about single state or double state or two state, were talking about the rebuilding of Gaza.”
This situation is ongoing.
Housing Issues
The Class of 2015 was the largest class NEC had faced since 2006. The 373-person class came with one major problem–housing.
This large class size resulted in the school scrambling for available dorms. That same year, it was decided that juniors were required to live on campus, making the housing shortage even more difficult to manage.
One of the solutions made by Resident Life was to convert the “Colby Clubhouse” to a five-person dorm. If you’re a Colby resident you will know that the Colby Clubhouse no longer exists.
Over the past few years, the space that was once a hang-out spot for Colby residents has been converted to dorm rooms and are still used today for that purpose.
Athletic Center Renovations
Also in 1973, NEC athletics were improving with new upgrades to the athletic facilities.
New England College opened a universal gym in the basement of “Bridges Hall,” what is now called the Athletics Center or the Bridges Gymnasium. Not only did a new gym space open up in the basement of Bridges Hall, the basement was also completely renovated.
This extensive renovation included the addition of lockers, showers, a wrestling practice room, and training facilities. It seems that these 1973 improvements significantly transformed NEC athletics, and students were eager about the changes to come.
Over the past several years, NEC students have been expressing their frustration about the inadequate athletic facilities.
The school has ultimately listened to these concerns, and the Athletic Center is currently under construction, making way for a much-improved athletic facility for students which is set to be finished this spring. Just like the 1970s, NEC students are looking forward to the upgraded athletic space.
The New England College website says that “This new space will include modern offices for Athletics Department coaches; an expanded and reimagined Strength Lab; a fitness center opens to the entire NEC community; and top-tier facilities such as locker rooms, strength training areas and sports medicine rooms.”
