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Northeastern University
Northeastern University admits 5 of every 100 applicants — a reach school for nearly everyone applying to Northeastern University, whatever the rest of the profile says.
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Northeastern University sits in Boston proper — a private campus woven into the city rather than walled off from it. International students are a visible presence here — 13.6% of undergraduates come from outside the U.S.
Its highest-earning path is Computer and Information Sciences, General, where graduates median $163,708 four years out. Faculty pay averages $194,616 a year here — a rough proxy for what the school spends on the teaching itself. With 17,326 undergraduates and a residential core, weekends happen on campus — and 96.9% of first-years come back for a second year.
Submitters admitted here typically landed between 1460 and 1550 — above the MA middle for four-year schools. Put your own practice estimate on Northeastern University's range with the SAT calculator, or bring a saved GPA from the grade tools.
Admissions
Northeastern University is test-optional: scores are considered when submitted but not required. The 1460–1550 range below describes admitted students who chose to submit — typically Northeastern University's stronger testers — so treat it as the higher end of what gets in.
| Score | 25th | 50th | 75th |
|---|---|---|---|
| SAT Reading & Writing | 710 | 730 | 760 |
| SAT Math | 750 | 770 | 790 |
| ACT Composite | 33 | 34 | 35 |
Percentiles are among students who submitted scores (Fall 2023 admissions cycle).
In the Fall 2023 cycle, Northeastern University received 96,631 applications and admitted 5,459 (5.6%), with 2,744 enrolling.
How Northeastern University compares
| Northeastern University | Massachusetts median | National median | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 5.2% | 70.7% | 77.2% |
| Tuition (in-state) | $66,162 | $46,700 | $19,591 |
| Median earnings (10 yr) | $92,538 | $62,832 | $53,781 |
Ten years after enrolling, the median Northeastern University student earns $92,538 — 47% above the Massachusetts median of $62,832 for college-goers.
Cost, size & completion
Northeastern University lists tuition at $66,162 for everyone — private schools don't do residency pricing. Northeastern University's sticker and net price can differ sharply after aid; treat $66,162 as the ceiling, not the bill.
17,326 undergraduates make Northeastern University a large campus: broad course catalogs and big intro lectures come as a package.
90.5% of Northeastern University students finish a bachelor's within six years — 35.7 points above the national 54.9% — and the single best predictor that the $66,162 price above buys a degree, not just enrollment.
Top majors by earnings at Northeastern University
| Bachelor's program | Median earnings, 4 yrs after completion |
|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $163,708 |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | $142,985 |
| Computer Engineering | $135,416 |
| International Business | $125,162 |
| Mathematics | $125,084 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering | $118,150 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $113,620 |
| Engineering, Other | $112,019 |
| Industrial Engineering | $111,430 |
| Chemical Engineering | $107,767 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $103,384 |
| Economics | $101,423 |
| Civil Engineering | $100,613 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $91,003 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $90,612 |
| Chemistry | $88,364 |
| Design and Applied Arts | $87,336 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services | $83,023 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions | $81,320 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $80,233 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $80,191 |
| Biology, General | $78,327 |
| Criminal Justice and Corrections | $77,477 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies | $74,816 |
| Journalism | $74,709 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $74,617 |
| Architecture | $74,540 |
| Political Science and Government | $73,539 |
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research | $70,272 |
| Sociology | $69,585 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $67,877 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology | $66,130 |
| Human Services, General | $61,152 |
| Music | $60,974 |
Median earnings for these 34 Northeastern University programs come from a different federal cohort than the campus-wide $92,538 above — compare rows to each other, not to that 10-year figure. 42 additional Northeastern University programs have earnings withheld under federal privacy rules.
Frequently asked questions
What GPA and test scores do you need for Northeastern University?
Among admitted students who submitted scores, the middle 50% scored 1460–1550 on the SAT. There's no published GPA cutoff — pair these ranges with the 5.2% admission rate to judge your odds.
What is Northeastern University's acceptance rate?
5.6% in the Fall 2023 cycle — 5,459 admitted from 96,631 applicants.
How much does Northeastern University cost?
At Northeastern University, published tuition is $66,162 — net price after aid usually comes in lower. That number is Northeastern University's ceiling, not a quote.
What do Northeastern University graduates earn?
Federal data puts median earnings at $92,538 ten years after enrolling. The table above breaks this down by major.
Similar colleges in Massachusetts
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology — 4.5% admitted
- Tufts University — 11.5% admitted
- Wellesley College — 14.1% admitted
- Williams College — 8.3% admitted
Run your own numbers
Data: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (Jun 2026), IPEDS ADM2023/HD2024. Retrieved 2026-09-01. Figures reflect the latest federal cohorts, which lag the current admissions cycle.