College comparison

Northeastern vs UC Berkeley

A side-by-side of acceptance rate, test scores, and cost — source-cited estimates, not guarantees. Want the number that actually matters for your student? Model your admit odds at each.

Metric	Northeastern Boston, MA	UC Berkeley Berkeley, CA
Acceptance rateNortheastern University is more selective	5%	11%
SAT (25–75)	1440–1540	—
ACT (25–75)	—	—
Undergrad enrollment	17,326	33,068
Avg net price	$30,915	$13,481
Median earnings (10 yr)Northeastern reports higher median earnings	$92,538	$92,446
Graduation rate	91%	93%
Median debt	$24,250	$13,000
Economic mobility	2.4%	4.9%
Test policy	—	—
Type	Private (nonprofit)	Public

Quick answers

Is Northeastern University or University of California-Berkeley harder to get into?

Northeastern University is more selective: Northeastern University's acceptance rate is approximately 5% and University of California-Berkeley's is approximately 11% (estimates from public and primary sources).

What SAT score do you need for Northeastern University vs University of California-Berkeley?

The middle-50% SAT range is 1440–1540 at Northeastern University and — at University of California-Berkeley. Scores outside these bands are still admitted, especially with strong applications.

Figures are estimates compiled from public datasets (College Scorecard / IPEDS) and primary sources; verify with each institution before relying on them.

These outputs are estimates from a baseline model — not guarantees of admission, cost, or outcome.