Admit rate has ranged 17%–91% over the last 4 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 Oakland is not a satellite campus but a distinct, intimate academic outpost forged from the merger with Mills College, offering a tight-knit, liberal arts-infused experience within the Northeastern global network. It trades Boston's frenetic co-op hustle for California's distinctive vibe and a more personalized, interdisciplinary curriculum, yet still leverages the university's formidable career engine, producing graduates with strong earnings. This is the place for students who want the brand and outcomes of Northeastern but prefer a smaller, collaborative community on a historic, park-like Oakland campus.
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)
Test scores (SAT/ACT)
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2021) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
464
In-state tuition
$67,778
Out-of-state tuition
$67,778
No-Loan Policy
Yes, for eligible Pell Grant recipients (Oakland Opportunity Scholarship)
Meets Full Need
Yes
Demonstrated Interest
Considered
Median Earnings (10yr)
$92,538
Graduation Rate (6-yr, Oakland)
64%
First-Year Students Receiving Aid
70%+
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$92,538
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
3.7×
Median debt at graduation
$24,250
First-year retention
<1%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
79%
Pell (lower-income) share
27%
First-gen share (among federal-aid recipients)
19%
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.
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Computer and Information Sciences, General$89,413
Business/Commerce, General$63,111
Economics$60,046
Health and Medical Administrative Services$38,289
Biology, General$38,108
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.
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
184
Summer high
70°F
Winter low
43°F
Annual rain
26.8"
Natural-hazard risk
Very High
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.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at Northeastern University Oakland?
Northeastern University Oakland's acceptance rate is approximately 17% (Oakland, CA), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
What SAT score do you need for Northeastern University Oakland?
Admitted students at Northeastern University Oakland typically score 1420–1520 on the SAT (the middle-50% range). Scores outside this band are still admitted, especially with strong applications.
How much does Northeastern University Oakland cost?
At Northeastern University Oakland, the average net price (after aid) is about $25,181 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend Northeastern University Oakland?
Northeastern University Oakland enrolls approximately 464 undergraduate students.
Where is Northeastern University Oakland located?
Northeastern University Oakland is located in Oakland, CA.
Admissions
Gaining entry to Northeastern University Oakland is a selective proposition, though it offers a notably higher admit rate than the university's flagship Boston campus. The undergraduate is 17%, drawn from a pool of over 18,000 applicants. The middle 50% SAT range for admitted students is 1420–1520, with an equivalent ACT range of 32–34. Academic rigor is paramount; for the broader Northeastern system, over 86% of a recent admitted class had a GPA of 4.0. The university employs a multi-round Early Decision (ED) strategy, with ED I and II acceptance rates historically ranging from approximately 35% to 43%, a stark contrast to the single-digit Regular Decision rates reported for the system. This suggests a significant portion of the class is filled through binding ED plans. Demonstrated interest is a factor in admissions, as Northeastern rates the "level of applicant's interest" in its evaluation grid.
The Oakland academic experience blends the intimate, interdisciplinary ethos of the former Mills College with Northeastern's career-focused, experiential model. Students can choose from 11 core majors and 22 interdisciplinary majors, with curricula designed to reflect the tech-driven landscape. The approach is described as combining leading academics with the problem-solving skills and agile mindset required in tech, business, healthcare, and science. While the Oakland campus offers its own immersive undergraduate degrees, it is part of the broader Northeastern ecosystem, which is a major feeder to big tech; the university's Computer Science program is ranked #13 on csrankings.org, and most students graduate with 6 to 18 months of co-op or internship experience. The environment is rigorous and guided, but the scale is smaller, leading some students to note they must be proactive in seeking specific major pathways that originate in Boston.
Life on the Oakland campus is defined by its tight-knit community and Northern California setting. Students describe a vibe more akin to a small liberal arts school, where it's possible to know half the campus by the end of the first semester. The university provides modern amenities and personal support, all encompassed in what it calls "California's distinctive vibe." A rich array of clubs and organizations makes it easy to connect with peers and explore interests. The Center for Belonging is a hub for community, offering rich cultural programming and opportunities for employment and leadership. The campus itself is a historic, park-like oasis in Oakland, providing a unique cultural and regional setting distinct from the urban intensity of Boston. As one university post notes, each Northeastern campus offers unique cultural, professional, and regional research opportunities.
The Northeastern Oakland degree carries the weight and career-launching power of the university's global reputation. The median earnings for graduates 10 years after entry is $92,538. For the broader Northeastern University, the median salary six years after graduation is $78,413, and 78% of graduates are employed full-time shortly after completing their degrees, with another 13.2% pursuing additional education. The university's signature co-op program is a critical driver, with most students accumulating substantial professional experience before graduation. The six-year graduation rate for the Oakland campus is reported at 64%, which is a distinct metric from the ~91% rate often cited for the flagship Boston campus.
Northeastern Oakland's average after grants and scholarships is $25,181 per year. Approximately 67% to 70%+ of first-year students receive financial aid, including merit scholarships and grants. The university commits to meeting the full demonstrated financial need for each admitted undergraduate student eligible for federal financial aid through its "Northeastern Promise." For eligible Federal Pell Grant recipients, the Oakland Opportunity Scholarship expands this commitment to meeting full need without federal student loans. Institutional aid is significant, with an average award of $60,237 that brings the net cost down. However, it's important to note that "meeting full need" includes federal loans within standard limits, and there have been past administrative challenges reported with federal aid disbursement for students following the Mills College merger.
Northeastern University Oakland stands out as a unique hybrid: it offers the career-centric, experiential powerhouse of the Northeastern brand within the intimate, collaborative container of a historic liberal arts college campus. It's for the student who wants the proven outcomes—the high median earnings, the tech industry recruitment, the co-op pedigree—but prefers a community where they won't be a face in a crowded Boston lecture hall. The campus provides "California's distinctive vibe," a park-like setting, and a tight-knit social atmosphere where relationships form quickly. Academically, it leverages interdisciplinary Mills College traditions while plugging into a global university network ranked #13 for Computer Science. It represents a strategic alternative within the Northeastern system, with a higher admission rate but the same foundational promise of a professionally transformative education, now delivered with a West Coast sensibility.
