Quad

Northeastern University

Boston, MAQuad's selectivityUltra selective
Known forUltra-selectiveTop test scoresVery diverseHigh earnersHigh graduation ratePell students graduate at the same rateTest-optional heavy
WebsiteAdmissionsApplyVisitFinancial aid

Admissions · Fall 2024

1 in 19 applicants admitted

Northeastern admits about 1 in 19 applicants (5.2%). That puts it in the "Ultra selective" tier, more selective than 99% of the 1,547 colleges that report admissions.

5.2%

5.2%

acceptance rateQuad's selectivityUltra selective

Applied

98,425

Admitted

5,133

Yield

54%

of admits enroll

SAT middle 50%

1440–1540

10001600
ACT middle 50%

33–35

1836
Applications +98% since fall 2014 · admit rate 32% → 5.2%Over time

Getting in, in detail: funnel, what they look at, your scores

Students

Who's on campus

A large campus of 17,326 undergrads, where 12% receive Pell Grants, a low share compared to other colleges.

17.3K

undergrads · larger than 94% of colleges

Diversity index

0.75

Pell Grant

12%

below the median

First generation

19%

below the median

Large cityNCAA D-I · Colonial Athletic AssociationROTCStudy abroadUndergrad research
More diverse · index 0.70 → 0.75 since fall 2014Over time

Students and campus life in detail

Academics

Majors and faculty

The most popular major is Business/Commerce, General (18% of graduates). 16 students for every faculty member, more than at 72% of colleges. 70% of faculty are full-time. Spends $21,813 a year on instruction per student.

16 to 1

students per faculty member · more than at 72% of colleges

Most popular major

Business/Commerce, General

18% of 2024–25 graduates

Top-earning major

Computer and Information Sciences, General

$163.7K four years after completion

Full-time faculty

70%

of faculty

Instruction spending

$21.8K

per student a year

All majors with search, earnings by major, and faculty

Cost & aid · 2023–24

What it costs

In 2023–24, the average first-year paid an estimated $51,270 in total (tuition, housing, food, books and other costs, after grants), $27K more than the national median. The 66% who received grants paid $34,207 on average; the other 34% paid the full sticker price of $84,731.

39%

$51.3K

average total cost per year, all first-years, after grants (est.) · $27K above the national median

$0$110K$400K+
Full price
$84,731 a year
tuition, housing, food, books, and other costs
Need-based aid
Published data end at $110K
use the college's net price calculator for higher incomes
Merit aid
5.8% · avg $16K
of first-years got a grant without federal aid (a proxy: at most colleges that's merit aid)
Aid generosity

Moderate

grants cover 39% of full price

Federal loans

27%

of undergrads · national median 45%

Your price

Net price calculator

the college's own

Financial aid

Financial aid office Veterans' benefits
Cost steady · −0% after inflation since 2013–14Over time

Prices, who gets aid, and borrowing in detail

Outcomes

What it pays

Former students earn a median $92,538 ten years after enrolling, more than at 97% of colleges; 91% graduate within six years. Four years of net price is about 2.2 years of that salary.

91%

91%

graduate within six years · national median 59%

Median earnings

$92.5K

10 years after entry

Median debt

$24.3K

≈ $257/month for 10 years

Retention

97%

come back for year two

Graduation rate 82% → 91% since the class that entered fall 2008Over time

Earnings, finishing, 8-year outcomes, by group

Over time · since 2013–14

How it's changed

Since 2013–14, the full price rose 11% after inflation, while what the average first-year paid held about steady, because grants grew faster. Applications rose 98% since fall 2014, and the acceptance rate went from 32% to 5.2%.

  • Cost

    Steady

    0% after inflation

  • Applications

    Growing

    +98%

  • Selectivity

    More selective

    admit rate 32% → 5%

  • Diversity

    More diverse

    index 0.70 → 0.75

Every series, year by year

Keep exploring

Schools like this one

Tufts University

11% admit · SAT 1495 · 7.1K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresAlso Northeast
Compare side-by-side

University of Pennsylvania

5.4% admit · SAT 1540 · 10.7K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
Compare side-by-side

Georgetown University

13% admit · SAT 1470 · 7.6K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresAlso private
Compare side-by-side

Cornell University

8.4% admit · SAT 1535 · 16K undergrads

Similar selectivitySimilar scoresSimilar size
Compare side-by-side
Sources for this overviewEvery dataset and year behind the numbers on this profile; tap any ⓘ for one number's source

Sources for this profile

  1. 1
    IPEDS directory (Institutional Characteristics: HD)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  2. 2
    College Scorecard

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release; Entered fall 2023; Fall 2024; 2023–24; Fall 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  3. 3
    IPEDS Admissions survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  4. 4
    Northeastern University Common Data Set 2023–24

    Northeastern University · Fall 2025 applicants; 2023–24 (estimated); Fall 2023; 2023–24; Fall 2024 cycle; 2024–25; Fall 2024 entrants; Class of 2023 · retrieved 2026-10-10

  5. 5
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  6. 6
    IPEDS Institutional Characteristics survey (athletics, programs, services, religious affiliation)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2025–26 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  7. 7
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part D)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  8. 8
    IPEDS Completions survey (degrees awarded by field)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2024–25 graduates · retrieved 2026-10-12

  9. 9
    College Scorecard Field of Study data

    U.S. Department of Education · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  10. 10
    IPEDS Finance survey, derived per-student figures

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  11. 11
    IPEDS Student Financial Aid survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · 2023–24 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  12. 12
    Northeastern University (2026–27)

    Northeastern University · 2026–27 · retrieved 2026-10-10

  13. 13
    Common Data Set

    Each college (voluntary, standardized template) · most recent release · retrieved 2026-10-12

  14. 14
    IPEDS Graduation Rates survey (Pell Grant and subsidized loan recipients)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Entered fall 2018 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  15. 15
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part C, residence of first-time students)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  16. 16
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (part A, enrollment by level)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  17. 17
    IPEDS Fall Enrollment survey (distance education)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  18. 18
    IPEDS Salaries survey (SAL, instructional staff, all ranks)

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Fall 2024 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  19. 19
    IPEDS Outcome Measures survey

    National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) · Students entering fall 2016 · retrieved 2026-10-12

  20. 20
    Northeastern University (2026)

    Northeastern University · 2026 · retrieved 2026-10-04

IPEDS unit ID 167358 · Data retrieved 2026-10-12. Tap any ⓘ to see where that number came from and what year it describes. National ranks and medians include every 4-year college that reports the measure. How we source and calculate everything