Northeastern University
Northeastern University is a highly selective private research university in Boston, Massachusetts, with about 17,326 students. Admission is highly selective, with an acceptance rate of about 5.22% in federal reporting data. Median earnings about ten years after entry reach about $92,538 among students who received federal aid.
Key Facts
- 2024 Undergraduate Tuition: $66,162
- 2024 Average Net Price: $30,915 After Financial Aid
- 2024 Acceptance Rate: 5.22% Highly Selective
- 2024 Enrolled Students: 17,326 100.0% Full-Time
- 2024 Graduation Rate: 90.54%
- Average SAT Score: 1497
Northeastern University: what the data shows
Common questions about Northeastern University, answered from College Scorecard and IPEDS in this repository.
Where is Northeastern University?
Northeastern University is located in Boston, MA (ZIP 02115-5005).
NCES locale classification: City.
Is Northeastern University public or private?
Northeastern University is a Private Non-profit institution.
How much does Northeastern University cost?
Published tuition: $66,162.
Average net price after aid: $30,915.
| Family income band | Avg. net price |
|---|---|
| Family income $0–$30,000 | $2,264 |
| $30,001–$48,000 | $2,436 |
| $48,001–$75,000 | $5,301 |
| $75,001–$110,000 | $16,241 |
| $110,001+ | $47,696 |
Sticker tuition × four years (estimate, no room/board): $264,648.
How hard is it to get into Northeastern University?
Admission rate: 5.22%.
Among enrollees who submitted scores: average SAT 1497 and midpoint ACT 34.
Scorecard does not publish admitted-student GPA for most institutions.
How big is Northeastern University?
Total enrollment: 17,326 students.
About 100% enroll full-time in our extract.
What is the graduation rate at Northeastern University?
150%-time completion rate: 90.54%.
First-year retention: 96.9%.
What do graduates of Northeastern University earn?
Median earnings: $78,413 six years after entry; $92,538 ten years after entry (College Scorecard).
How much debt do students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers: $24,250.
12.34% of students receive Pell grants.
What is Northeastern University known for?
Largest IPEDS program completions at this institution:
- Other/Unknown Programs (11,632 completions)
- Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (1,744 completions)
- Business Administration, Management, & Operations (1,146 completions)
- CIP 140903 (1,086 completions)
- CIP 149999 (701 completions)
- CIP 140101 (388 completions)
- Mechanical Engineering (358 completions)
- Electrical & Electronics Engineering (308 completions)
- CIP 110802 (307 completions)
- CIP 261201 (270 completions)
See ROI & Programs for more.
Is Northeastern University a good school?
We do not score schools on opinion. Federal data in our extract show admission rate 5.22%; completion rate 90.54%; median earnings $92,538 at 10 years; net price $30,915. Compare these figures to your cost, aid, and career goals.
Costs
Tuition Costs
$66,162
2024 Undergraduate Tuition
In 2024, the cost of tuition at Northeastern University was $66,162.
Tuition comparison with similar institutions.
Average Net Price
$30,915
2024 Value
In 2024 Northeastern University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $30,915.
Average net price comparison with similar institutions.
Total Cost of Attendance
$123,660 Estimated 4-Year Total Cost
$30,915 Average Annual Net Price (after aid)
$264,648 4-Year Tuition
Costs include tuition and fees. Room & board, books, and other expenses are additional.
4-year total cost breakdown for Northeastern University.
Financial Aid by Income Level
12.34% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
27.32% Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans
Financial aid distribution by income level.
Student Loan Default Rate
0.00%
3-year cohort default rate (College Scorecard)
The published 3-year cohort default rate for borrowers at Northeastern University was 0.00%.
Cohort default rates account for borrowers who default in the first three years.
Tuition tracker
Published tuition and average net price by reporting year come from the College Scorecard institution file. Values are not adjusted for inflation; missing cells mean the field was not reported or was suppressed for Northeastern University in that year.
Reporting years in the table below: 2013–2023 (Scorecard labels refer to the institutional submission cycle).
| Year | In-state tuition & fees | Out-of-state tuition & fees | Average net price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | $41,686 | $41,686 | $31,503 |
| 2014 | $43,440 | $43,440 | $32,715 |
| 2015 | $45,530 | $45,530 | $28,869 |
| 2016 | $47,653 | $47,653 | $28,565 |
| 2017 | $49,497 | $49,497 | $29,748 |
| 2018 | $51,522 | $51,522 | $31,855 |
| 2019 | $53,506 | $53,506 | $31,093 |
| 2020 | $55,452 | $55,452 | $29,714 |
| 2021 | $57,592 | $57,592 | $34,255 |
| 2022 | $60,192 | $60,192 | $28,521 |
| 2023 | $63,141 | $63,141 | $32,116 |
Sticker tuition and net price over time
Where the institution reported separate in-state and out-of-state tuition, both appear. Gaps mean the value was not reported for that year.
College Scorecard reporting-year fields (not inflation-adjusted).
Net price by family income
Brackets follow Scorecard definitions for the series shown (public vs private institution).
Latest income-band net prices available in the processed extract.
Admissions
Acceptance Rate
5.22% Acceptance Rate
This institution is extremely selective, accepting fewer than 1 in 10 applicants.
Acceptance rate compared to national average.
Test Scores
SAT Average: 1497
ACT Average: 34
Average SAT and ACT scores for admitted students.
Academic Requirements
Estimated GPA Range: 3.7 - 3.9
Estimated Median GPA: 3.90
Note: GPA requirements are estimated based on admission selectivity and test scores. Actual requirements may vary.
Estimated GPA and test score ranges.
Enrollment
Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment
100.0% Full-Time Enrollment
The total enrollment at Northeastern University in 2024 is 17,326 students.
Full-time vs part-time enrollment comparison.
Retention Rate over Time
96.9%
2024 Retention Rate
Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall.
Retention rate over time compared to similar institutions.
Graduates & Outcomes
Time to Complete
0.00% 100% Completion Time
90.54% 150% Completion Time
In 2024, 0.00% of students graduating from Northeastern University completed their program within 100% "normal time".
Completion rates over time compared to similar institutions.
ROI & Programs
Financial value and program information for Northeastern University.
Return on Investment
$24,250 Median Student Debt
$92,538 Median Annual Earnings (10 years)
26.21% Debt-to-Earnings Ratio
648.33% Return on Investment
2.6 years Estimated Payback Period
Financial value analysis for Northeastern University.
Top Programs by Completions
10 Programs Reporting Data
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services: 1,744 completions
Business Administration, Management, & Operations: 1,146 completions
CIP 14.0903: 1,086 completions
CIP 14.9999: 701 completions
CIP 14.0101: 388 completions
Mechanical Engineering: 358 completions
Electrical & Electronics Engineering: 308 completions
CIP 11.0802: 307 completions
CIP 26.1201: 270 completions
Other/Unknown Programs: 11,632 completions
Most popular programs at Northeastern University.
Employment Outcomes
Employment outcome data is not available for this institution.
Earnings outcomes for Northeastern University graduates.
About
Northeastern University is a private non-profit institution located in Boston, MA, offering 119 distinct degree programs across various academic disciplines. The institution enrolls approximately 17,326 students. It is highly selective, with an admission rate of 5.22%. Average SAT scores for admitted students are 1497. The institution maintains a 90.54% graduation rate. Approximately 12.34% of students receive Pell Grants.
Institution Type
Private Non-profit
Location
Boston, MA 02115-5005
Region: New England
Insights and Analysis
Exceptional Graduation Rate: With a 90.54% graduation rate, Northeastern University demonstrates strong student retention and completion. This rate significantly exceeds the national average, indicating effective academic support and student services.
Strong Career Outcomes: Northeastern University graduates report median earnings of $92,538 ten years after entry, placing them among the higher-earning college graduates nationally. This strong earnings potential reflects both the quality of education and the career opportunities available to graduates.
Diverse Program Offerings: With over 119 distinct degree programs, Northeastern University provides students with a wide range of academic options. This diversity allows students to explore various fields and find programs that align with their interests and career goals.
FAQ
How much does Northeastern University cost?
Reported in-state tuition is $66,162 and average net price is $30,915 in the latest College Scorecard data.
How hard is it to get into Northeastern University?
The admission rate is 5.2% among first-time degree-seeking students reporting admissions data.
What test scores do students need for Northeastern University?
Among enrolled students who submitted scores, Northeastern University reports midpoint SAT about 1497 and midpoint ACT about 34.
What do graduates of Northeastern University earn?
Median earnings are $78,413 six years after entry and $92,538 ten years after entry.
What is the graduation rate at Northeastern University?
The 150%-time completion rate is 90.5% for the cohort reported to the College Scorecard.
How much debt do Northeastern University students have?
Median federal loan debt among completers is $24,250.
How big is Northeastern University?
Total enrollment is about 17,326 students in the latest reporting year.
Is Northeastern University public or private?
Northeastern University is a private nonprofit institution located in Boston, MA.
Is Northeastern University an HBCU?
No. Northeastern University is not flagged as an HBCU in the IPEDS institutional directory.
Is Northeastern University a tribal college?
No. Northeastern University is not flagged as a tribal college in IPEDS.
Is Northeastern University a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI)?
Using a 25% Hispanic enrollment threshold on College Scorecard demographics, Northeastern University does not meet that proxy (reported share 10.4%).
Is Northeastern University religiously affiliated?
No religious affiliation is reported for Northeastern University in IPEDS institutional characteristics.
Data Sources
This page uses data from the following sources:
- College Scorecard - U.S. Department of Education
- Institutional characteristics, costs, completion rates, and earnings data
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: collegescorecard.ed.gov
- Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)
- Employment and wage data by occupation
- Latest data: May 2024
- Source: bls.gov/oes
- O*NET Online - U.S. Department of Labor
- Occupational skills, knowledge, abilities, and work activities
- Database version: 28.0 (August 2023)
- Source: onetcenter.org
- IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) - National Center for Education Statistics
- Institutional data, completions, enrollment, and financial aid
- Data years: 2015-2024
- Source: nces.ed.gov/ipeds
- Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS)
- Demographic and workforce data
- Latest data: 2023 ACS 5-Year Estimates
- Source: census.gov/acs
- Related geography & profiles
Data Processing: All data has been processed, cleaned, and aggregated for presentation. Where specific data points are unavailable, estimates are based on available data and clearly marked.
Last Updated: Data reflects the most recent available information as of January 2025.
Methodology
Data for this profile is sourced from the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard dataset, which provides comprehensive information on institutions of higher education in the United States.
All financial figures are adjusted for inflation and represent the most recent available data. Graduation rates and completion times are calculated according to federal standards.