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Northeastern University

Private Nonprofit Graduate Strong 78/100

Northeastern University

See admissions data, costs, student outcomes, and academic programs, all verified from official US government sources.

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Boston, Massachusetts

About Northeastern University

Northeastern University is a private nonprofit institution offering graduate degrees based in Boston, Massachusetts. It enrolls 17,326 students (a very large student body), according to IPEDS 2023-24 data. Below you'll find verified data on admissions, cost, student outcomes, programs offered, and what graduates typically earn, all pulled from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard and IPEDS.

Official website: northeastern.edu

Acceptance: 5.2%
Graduation: 69.2%
Net Price: $30,915
Median Earnings (10yr): $92,538
Enrollment: 17,326
Student : Faculty: 16:1

Accreditor New England Commission on Higher Education

Academic Calendar Semester

How It Measures Up

US College Data scores each college on four pillars (outcomes, value, affordability, and selectivity) on a 0–100 scale, ranked within its peer group (4-Year Selective). Scores are calculated from verified College Scorecard and IPEDS data, not opinion or paid placement. Where data is missing, that pillar isn't scored.

Strong

78/100

UCD Score · 4-Year Selective

Outcomes 97

Value 61

Affordability 9

Selectivity 98

Admissions & Acceptance Rate

With an acceptance rate of 5.2%, Northeastern University is among the most selective colleges in the country.

Acceptance Rate

5.2%

Highly Selective

SAT Range (25th–75th)

1440 – 1540

Reading + Math combined

ACT Range (25th–75th)

33 – 35

Cumulative composite

Test Policy Not Considered Standardized test scores are not used in admissions decisions.

5-Year Admission Trend

Acceptance rate over the last five admission cycles. The trend tells you whether Northeastern University is getting harder, easier, or staying about the same.

Getting more selective ↓ 12.4 pts since 2019

Cost & Financial Aid

The real cost of attending Northeastern University isn't the sticker price. It's the net price,which is what most students actually pay after grants and scholarships. According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, the average net price is $30,915 per year. That's in line with the typical net price for private nonprofit colleges nationally.

Average Net Price

$30,915

Per year, after typical aid

Receive Pell Grants

12%

Need-based federal aid

Receive Federal Loans

27%

Borrowing to attend

Full Cost Breakdown

Published cost of attendance, the sticker price before grants and scholarships. Most students underestimate room & board and other expenses.

Tuition & Fees: $66,162
Room & Board (on-campus): $19,580
Room & Board (off-campus): $19,580
Books & Supplies: $1,000
Other Expenses (on-campus): $1,800
Other Expenses (off-campus): $1,800
Total Cost of Attendance: $84,641

Application fee: $75 (one-time, due at submission)

Net Price by Family Income

Aid is need-based, so net price varies by family income. Here's what each bracket typically pays after grants and scholarships.

Under $30,000

$2,264
$30,001 – $48,000

$2,436
$48,001 – $75,000

$5,301
$75,001 – $110,000

$16,241
Over $110,000

$47,696

Debt at Graduation

Cumulative federal-loan debt across the full borrowing distribution. The 10th and 90th percentiles bracket the typical range; the median sits in the middle.

$5,757

10% percentile

$14,500

25% percentile

$24,250

Median percentile

$31,000

75% percentile

$34,500

90% percentile

Median Debt by Student Type

Median federal-loan debt at graduation broken down by demographic. Each slice's size is proportional to the dollar amount that group typically borrows.

GroupDebtvs Median

Pell recipients $23,000 ↓ $1,250

No Pell $21,333 ↓ $2,917

Dependent students $21,500 ↓ $2,750

Independent students $23,791 ↓ $459

Female students $21,500 ↓ $2,750

Male students $22,323 ↓ $1,927

Worth knowing: Students who don't finish leave with a median debt of $13,500, less than completers ($24,250), but still a meaningful obligation without a degree in hand.

Graduation Rate & Retention

69% of full-time students who enrolled at Northeastern University graduate within six years, and 97% return for their second year, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

6-Year Graduation Rate

69%

Of students who graduate within six years

First-Year Retention

97%

Returning for their second year

What this means: High first-year retention. Students who arrive tend to stay.

After Graduation: Earnings & Outcomes

According to College Scorecard 2023-24 data, students who entered Northeastern University earn a median of $92,538 ten years after first enrolling. That's well above the national median for U.S. colleges.

Median Earnings (10 yrs)

$92,538

Earning > $25K

91%

10 yrs after entry

Earnings Growth After Graduation

Median annual earnings 6, 8, and 10 years after students first enrolled.

Earnings by Demographic

Mean annual earnings 10 years after entry, segmented by demographic. Reveals gaps the headline median can't show.

By Gender

Female graduates

$68,700

Median earnings for female grads ten years after first enrolling here.

Male graduates

$81,000

Median earnings for male grads ten years after first enrolling here.

By Family Income at Entry

Family income (lowest third)

$72,900

Earnings of grads from the bottom-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (middle third)

$71,900

Earnings of grads from the middle-third of family incomes at entry.

Family income (highest third)

$75,700

Earnings of grads from the top-third of family incomes at entry.

The gender gap: Male graduates earn $12,300, about 15% more than female graduates ten years out. The gap reflects industry mix, role choice, and structural pay differences that exist across most US colleges.

Loan Repayment Progression

Share of completer-cohort borrowers paying down at least $1 of principal at the 1-, 3-, 5-, and 7-year mark. Climbing rates show graduates settling into careers and managing debt; flat or declining rates are a warning.

Climbing: graduates increasingly paying down debt ↑ 9.4 pts across 6 years

What this signals: Excellent. 93% of graduates were paying down at least $1 of principal seven years out.

Who Studies Here

Northeastern University is home to 17,326 students, a sprawling student community.

Total Enrolled

17,326

Part-Time

First-Generation

19%

Race & Ethnicity Breakdown

Undergraduate student body composition reported to the US Department of Education.

GroupShareStudents

White 39.9% 6,906

Asian 22.3% 3,867

International 13.6% 2,348

Hispanic 10.4% 1,805

Other 6.9% 1,192

Black 5.0% 861

Student Life & Campus Culture

Where students live, learn, and connect at Northeastern University. The campus setting, housing profile, and signals that shape day-to-day life here.

Setting

Large City Boston, Massachusetts

Housing

Mostly residential 11,759 beds on campus

Adult Learners

1% of students are 25 or older

Athletics

NCAA athletic-conference member

Academic Calendar

Semester scheduling structure

What You Can Study

Northeastern University offers an extensive catalog of programs: 157 distinct programs across 25 majors. Below are its strongest majors, each with flagship programs and typical earnings. Open a major to explore it in depth, or browse the full program catalog.

26 Programs

Engineering

Computer Engineering $109K ($86K–$145K)
Engineering $94K ($77K–$115K)
General Engineering $89K ($73K–$109K)

11 Programs

Computer Science

Information Systems $92K ($64K–$128K)
Information Systems $92K ($64K–$128K)
Computer Software & Media $59K ($36K–$88K)

8 Programs

Business

Business $68K ($48K–$95K)
Management Sciences $86K ($62K–$115K)
Business $68K ($48K–$95K)

18 Programs

Health

Health Administration $59K ($42K–$80K)
Nursing $89K ($68K–$114K)
Pharmacy $117K ($79K–$140K)

13 Programs

Biology

Biology $57K ($39K–$79K)
Neurobiology $62K ($41K–$89K)
Biotechnology $67K ($47K–$89K)

4 Programs

Mathematics

Applied Mathematics $92K ($63K–$127K)
Mathematics $70K ($49K–$97K)
Mathematics $70K ($49K–$97K)

4 Programs

Legal Studies

Legal Research $63K ($47K–$84K)
Legal Research $63K ($47K–$84K)
Legal Professions and Studies $57K ($39K–$79K)

5 Programs

Communication

Communication & Media $56K ($40K–$76K)
Journalism $56K ($41K–$74K)
Communication & Journalism, Other $55K ($40K–$75K)

View all majors View all programs

Faculty & Resources

The student-to-faculty ratio at Northeastern University is 16:1, close to the national average.

Student : Faculty

16:1

Students per instructional faculty member

Endowment

$3.7B

Strong financial cushion supports aid and stability

Avg Faculty Salary

$135,252

9-month equivalent across all ranks

Faculty by Rank

1,744 instructional faculty across 6 ranks. The rank mix shows how many senior faculty are teaching versus contingent or junior staff, with average salary equated to a 9-month contract.

Rank	Faculty Count	Share	Avg Salary
Full Professors	525	30%	$185,422
Associate Professors	503	29%	$130,001
Assistant Professors	435	25%	$115,871
Instructors	123	7%	$98,802
Lecturers	20	1%	$110,183
No Rank	138	8%	$66,553

Pros & Cons of Northeastern University

A quick at-a-glance summary of how Northeastern University tends to stack up for prospective students,weighing its data, size, setting, and cost profile together.

PROS

Highly selective, strong peer cohort
Reasonable class sizes
Above-average graduation rate
Strong first-year retention
Above-average post-graduation earnings

CONS

Above-average net price
Highly competitive admissions, many strong applicants are rejected
Very high published cost of attendance (full-pay families pay much more than the net-price average)
Predominantly serves middle- and upper-income families

Best for: Based on the data, Northeastern University is a fit for students prioritizing post-graduation earnings; students seeking a highly selective peer group.

Frequently Asked Questions about Northeastern University

Quick answers to the questions most students and parents ask. Every answer below is calculated from verified government data about Northeastern University.

Is Northeastern University hard to get into?

Yes. Northeastern University is among the most selective colleges in the United States, with an acceptance rate of 5.2%. Successful applicants typically have top-decile test scores and strong academic, extracurricular, and recommendation profiles.

What is the acceptance rate at Northeastern University?

Northeastern University has an acceptance rate of 5.2%, according to College Scorecard 2023-24 admissions data.

What SAT score do you need for Northeastern University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Northeastern University scored between 1440 and 1540 on the SAT (Reading + Math combined). Scores at the higher end of that range improve admissions odds materially. Per IPEDS 2023-24 data.

What ACT score do you need for Northeastern University?

The middle 50% of admitted students at Northeastern University scored between 33 and 35 on the ACT composite. Scores in the upper half of that range strengthen an application. Source: IPEDS 2023-24.

How much does Northeastern University cost?

The average net price after aid at Northeastern University is $30,915 per year, this is what students typically pay after grants and scholarships are applied. Net price data: College Scorecard 2023-24.

Is Northeastern University worth it?

Moderate return on investment. Graduates earn a median of $92,538 ten years after entering, against an average net price of $30,915 per year. That's roughly 3.0x earnings-to-cost. Source: College Scorecard 2023-24.

What is Northeastern University known for?

Northeastern University is best known for its programs in Business, Information Systems, Computer Engineering. These are the most popular fields by completed degrees, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

What do Northeastern University graduates earn?

Median earnings 10 years after entering Northeastern University are $92,538, based on College Scorecard 2023-24 federal earnings data for Title IV recipients.

Is Northeastern University accredited?

Yes. Northeastern University is accredited by the New England Commission on Higher Education.

How many students attend Northeastern University?

Northeastern University enrolls 17,326 students, per IPEDS 2023-24 fall enrollment data.

What is the graduation rate at Northeastern University?

Northeastern University graduates 69% of full-time students within six years, per IPEDS 2023-24 completion data.

Is Northeastern University a public or private college?

Northeastern University is a Private Nonprofit institution.

Where is Northeastern University located?

Northeastern University is located in Boston, Massachusetts.

What programs does Northeastern University offer?

Northeastern University offers 157 distinct programs. The most popular include Business, Information Systems, Computer Engineering.

What is the student-to-faculty ratio at Northeastern University?

The student-to-faculty ratio at Northeastern University is 16:1, per IPEDS 2023-24 data.