Admit rate has ranged 6%–20% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
Northeastern University has transformed itself from a regional commuter school into a selective, globally recognized research university with a signature co-op program that integrates real-world experience into its curriculum. Its Boston location, emphasis on experiential learning, and rapidly rising selectivity (now under 6%) make it a magnet for career-focused students—though its sticker price and competitive admissions demand serious consideration.
Admission requirements
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
College-prep program
Demonstrated competencies
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
17,326
In-state tuition
$66,162
Out-of-state tuition
$66,162
Acceptance Rate
5.2%
Co-op Participation
50%+
5-Year Graduation Rate
73%
Median Early-Career Salary
$74,155
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$92,538
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
3.0×
Median debt at graduation
$24,250
Graduation rate
91%
First-year retention
97%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
79%
Pell (lower-income) share
34%
First-generation share
19%
Endowment / student
Financial health
3.0 / 3.0Meets the federal financial-responsibility standard
U.S. Dept. of Education Financial Responsibility Composite Score (FY2022-23). Scale −1.0 to 3.0; ≥1.5 meets the standard. Reported for private nonprofit & for-profit institutions only — public universities are state-backed and not scored, so this is a stability signal, not a ranking.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Computer Engineering$89,564
Computer and Information Sciences, General$89,413
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering$76,773
Physics$74,200
Mechanical Engineering$72,771
Chemical Engineering$72,022
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
13
Per 1,000 students
0.75
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
91
Summer high
81°F
Winter low
25°F
Annual rain
49"
Annual snow
31.4"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively Moderate
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
686
Scholarly works
82,847
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Economic mobility
Mobility rate
2.4%
Bottom → top quintile
47%
From bottom quintile
5%
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Northeastern University?
Northeastern University's acceptance rate is approximately 5% (Boston, MA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Northeastern University?
Admitted students at Northeastern University typically score 1440–1540 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Northeastern University cost?
At Northeastern University, the average net price (after aid) is about $30,915 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Northeastern University?
Northeastern University enrolls approximately 17,326 undergraduate students.
Where is Northeastern University located?
Northeastern University is located in Boston, MA.
Admissions
Getting into Northeastern has become brutally competitive—its 5.2% Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. (per PrepMaven and US News) puts it in Ivy-adjacent territory. The middle 50% SAT range for admitted students is 1460–1550, with ACT scores clustering between 33–35. Unweighted GPAs for admits typically fall between 4.2–4.5. Notably, applying Early Decision may provide a slight edge at this institution where over 90% of applicants could plausibly succeed academically.
Northeastern offers an unusually flexible curriculum with 329 majors and 199 combined majors across nine colleges, allowing students to blend disciplines like business and computer science or engineering and design. Its standout feature is the co-op program—ranked among the best nationally—where students alternate semesters of study with full-time paid work at companies like Tesla or NASA. While some debate whether its rapid rise in rankings reflects academic substance (see Reddit threads), programs in international business (top 10 per U.S. News) and computer science draw particular praise.
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
$70,200
Industrial Engineering$66,541
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
The vibe is work-hard, network-harder—students describe a campus where people study outside at the first sign of sunshine but also prioritize professional connections. Over 400 clubs range from investment societies to Quidditch teams. Boston’s urban setting means less traditional campus culture than rural schools, but the Reddit consensus is that most students find it welcoming: "Most people are pretty friendly" (r/NEU). Housing guarantees exist but some upperclassmen move off-campus to escape Boston’s high rents.
The co-op model pays off: 93% of graduates are employed or in grad school within nine months. Median earnings one year post-graduation hover around $74,155 (per Research.com), though Niche reports a lower figure of $36,427—likely reflecting early-career variability. Five-year graduation rates sit at 73%, climbing to 77% by year six. Notably, 50% of students complete at least one co-op, often leading directly to job offers.
At $69,289 for tuition and fees, Northeastern isn’t cheap—but its Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. averages $45,775 after aid (US News). About half of students receive merit or need-based scholarships, with average grants around $25,544. The MyinTuition calculator helps families estimate costs, though the university emphasizes that 82% of aid comes from institutional grants rather than loans.
Northeastern has masterfully leveraged its co-op program and Boston location to attract top students who want résumé-ready experience before graduation. While critics argue its ranking surge relies on gaming metrics, the outcomes speak for themselves: graduates land jobs at elite firms and earn salaries competitive with Ivy League peers. It’s ideal for self-starters who’ll maximize urban opportunities—but the price tag demands calculating ROI.
Northeastern University logo · sourceVisit Campus | Undergraduate Admissions · sourceNortheastern University moves to online learning at its Boston campus - Northeastern Global News · sourceGetting to Know: Northeastern University (MA) - Educated Quest · source
