Northeastern University

Boston, MA · Private nonprofit · Large city · Website

Admission rate: 5.2%; Extremely selective
Average net price: $29,060; per year, after aid
Graduation rate: 91%
Median earnings: $99,371; 10 years after enrolling

Northeastern University is a private nonprofit college in Boston, MA with 17,326 undergraduates. It admits 5.2% of applicants, and admitted students average 1497 on the SAT. The average net price after aid is $29,060 per year. 91% of students graduate, and graduates earn a median of $99,371 ten years after enrolling.

private nonprofit college

Admissions

Admission rate: 5.2%; Fall 2024
Testing policy: Test optional; Fall 2024
Applicants: 96,631; Fall 2023
Admitted: 5,459; Fall 2023
Yield: 50%; of admitted students enrolled

Middle 50% of admitted students (Fall 2024). A quarter scored below the band and a quarter above.

SAT Reading & Writing710–760

200800

SAT Math730–780

200800

ACT Composite33–35

136

What Northeastern University looks at

As reported by the college to IPEDS (Fall 2023).

High school recordRequired
High school GPARequired
College-prep courseworkConsidered
Class rankConsidered
Essay or personal statementRequired
RecommendationsRequired
Demonstrated competenciesConsidered
Legacy statusConsidered
Work experienceConsidered
English proficiency testRequired

Cost

Cost of attendance: $88,412; sticker price, per year
Tuition & fees: $69,289

Net price by family income

Average yearly cost after grants and scholarships for students receiving federal aid.

$0–30k—
$30–48k—
$48–75k$2,038
$75–110k$11,758
$110k+$49,705

Get a personal estimate with Northeastern University's net price calculator

Outcomes

Graduation rate: 91%
Freshman retention: 97%
Median earnings: $99,371; 10 yrs after enrolling
Median debt: $20,000; at graduation

Students

Undergraduates: 17,326
Student–faculty ratio: 16:1
Receive Pell grants: 16%

White40%
Hispanic10%
Black5%
Asian22%

Northeastern University FAQ

What is Northeastern University's acceptance rate?+

Northeastern University admits 5.2% of applicants, which makes it extremely selective.

What SAT score do you need for Northeastern University?+

The middle 50% of admitted students scored 710–760 on SAT Reading and Writing and 730–780 on SAT Math; the average total is 1497.

What ACT score do you need for Northeastern University?+

The middle 50% ACT composite range for admitted students is 33–35.

Is Northeastern University test optional?+

Test optional (considered if submitted).

How many students apply to Northeastern University?+

In Fall 2023, 96,631 students applied to Northeastern University and 5,459 were admitted; 2,744 enrolled.

Does Northeastern University consider legacy status?+

Yes. Northeastern University reported that legacy status is considered in admissions (Fall 2023).

Does Northeastern University require an essay?+

Northeastern University reported that an essay or personal statement is required for admission (Fall 2023).

How much does Northeastern University cost?+

The sticker cost of attendance is $88,412 per year, but the average net price after grants and scholarships is $29,060.

What is Northeastern University's graduation rate?+

91% of full-time students graduate within 150% of normal time.

Sources

Admission rate, test scores, cost, students, and outcomes: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard (Most Recent Institution-Level Data), released 2026-10-15. Admissions figures are for Fall 2024, costs for 2024-25, and earnings are measured in 2023.
Applicants, admitted, yield, and admission factors: IPEDS Admissions survey (ADM2023), Fall 2023.
IPEDS unit ID 167358 · How we use this data