Northeastern University
Boston, Massachusetts · Private · 17,326 undergraduates · northeastern.edu
Test policy (fall 2027)
Test optional
Sending scores is your choice
Admit rate
5.6%
of 105,256 applicants
SAT (middle 50%)
1440 to 1510
of enrolled freshmen
Annual cost (2027-28)
$102,330Est.Estimate
before aid
Your chances and merit aid at Northeastern University
See where you stand for admission, how much merit aid you could get, and what you'd pay after it.
We started you at a typical enrolled freshman here. Move the sliders to match you.
Your admission chances
5.6% of applicants admitted
Reach
It admits only 5.6% of applicants, so it's a reach for everyone.
82% of freshmen had a weighted high school GPA of 4.0 or higher (average 4.22).
Estimated merit aid
a year
Your cost after merit aid
$102,330
a year in 2027-28, from a $102,330 sticker price
What to do with your 1480
Send your score
About 72% of freshmen here didn't send a score. We estimate their typical SAT at about 1380, and yours is above it.
Named scholarships you may qualify for (2)
National Recognition Program Scholarship
You meet the GPA and score minimums. Also needs other requirements.
Northeastern National Merit Finalist Scholarship
You meet the GPA and score minimums. Also needs National Merit Finalist standing.
Reach, target and likely are a rough guide from your test score and how selective the college is. Admissions also weigh your courses, grades, essays and activities. Merit aid figures are estimates, before any need-based aid.
Admissions
Test policy for fall 2027
Test optional
You choose whether to send an SAT or ACT score. If you send one, it's considered.
- Superscores: it combines your best section scores from different test dates.
- You can type your scores into the application; official reports come later.
Source: Required Materials | Undergraduate Admissions · Checked October 16, 2026
Application deadlines
- Nov1Early Action · November 1, 2026Apply early and hear early. Not binding.
- Nov1Early Decision · November 1, 2026Binding: if admitted, you commit to enroll.
- Jan1Early Decision II · January 1, 2027A second binding round, after Early Decision.
- Jan1Regular Decision · January 1, 2027The standard deadline.
Who gets in
5.6%
of applicants were admitted: 5,920 of 105,256 for fall 2025.
Early Action
Not binding. Apply by 11/1, hear by 2/15.
Early Decision
Binding. 35% of early applicants were admitted.
Test scores of enrolled freshmen (fall 2025)
The shaded part shows the middle half of enrolled freshmen who sent scores: a quarter scored below it and a quarter above. 22% of them sent SAT scores and 7.8% sent ACT scores.
SAT total 1440 to 1510
Reading and Writing 710 to 750
Math 720 to 780
ACT composite 33 to 34
How enrolled freshmen scored on the SAT
- 1400 to 160091%
- 1200 to 13998%
- 1000 to 11990%
- 800 to 9990%
- 600 to 7990%
- 400 to 5990%
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
High school GPA of enrolled freshmen
Average GPA: 4.22
- 4.082%
- 3.75 to 3.9910%
- 3.50 to 3.746%
- 3.25 to 3.491%
- 3.00 to 3.241%
- 2.50 to 2.990%
- Below 2.500%
Cost and financial aid
The sticker price is what a year costs before any aid. Most students pay less after grants and scholarships.
Sticker price for 2027-28Estimate
$102,330
a year
- Tuition$73,890
- Fees$1,720
- Food and housing$23,800
- Books and supplies$1,040
- Transportation and other$1,880
Northeastern University published $98,382 for 2026-27. Its 2027-28 prices aren't out yet.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
What families actually pay
What a year cost on average after grants and scholarships, for freshmen who got federal aid in 2023-24, by family income.
- $0 to $30,000Not reported
- $30,001 to $48,000Not reported
- $48,001 to $75,000$2,038
- $75,001 to $110,000$11,758
- Over $110,000$49,705
Financial aid
100%
of a student's financial need is covered, on average
$64,845
average need-based grant to freshmen, money you don't repay
12%
of freshmen got merit aid without financial need, $14,119 on average
- FAFSA
- Required for need-based aid. It's the free federal aid form.
- CSS Profile
- Required. It's a second, more detailed aid form some colleges use for their own grants.
- Aid priority date: 2/15
- Send your aid forms by this date to be first in line for the college's grant money.
Source: Common Data Set 2025-2026
Merit scholarships
Awards for grades and scores, on top of need-based aid. You don't repay them.
Merit scholarships (unnamed)
Automatic · No separate application
Awarded to select students; amounts 'range' and are not published
Deadline: January 1 (Regular Decision admission deadline). To keep it: meet the terms of your merit scholarship contract (a minimum GPA, community service, or both); it renews for up to 8 semesters.
DetailsStamps Scholars Program
Full cost of attendance
Competitive · Application required
Deadline: By invitation; selections notified mid-March. To keep it: ask the college for the renewal rules.
DetailsNational Recognition Program Scholarship
National Merit · No separate application
For National First-Generation, Rural and Small Town, and School Recognition Scholars; amount not published; only one National Scholarship per student
- College Board National Recognition Program scholar
Deadline: April 7, 2027 (priority documentation); August 1 final. To keep it: ask the college for the renewal rules.
DetailsNortheastern National Merit Finalist Scholarship
National Merit · No separate application
Competitive merit-based award; amount not published; may replace preexisting merit awards
- National Merit Finalist who designates Northeastern University-Boston
Deadline: April 7, 2027 (priority; designate Northeastern-Boston with NMSC); August 1 final. To keep it: ask the college for the renewal rules.
Details
Compare awards across colleges with the merit aid calculator.
AP credit
AP exams that earn credit can replace college courses, so you pay for fewer of them and may graduate sooner.
AP exams that earn credit
38 of 38
Earn credit with a score of 3
None
You need a 4 or 5 for credit here.
A 3-credit course is worth
about $7,390Est.Estimate
at 2027-28 tuition
Credit for each AP exam
| Exam | Score needed | Credits | Counts as |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2-D Art and Design | 4 | 4 | ARTF1122 & ARTF1990 |
| 3-D Art and Design | 4 | 4 | ARTF1230 & ARTF1990 |
| African American Studies | 4 | 4 | AFAM 1101 |
| Art History | 4 | 4 | ARTH1990 |
| Biology | 4 | 10 | BIOL1111/1112 & BIOL1113/1114 |
| Calculus AB | 4 | 4 | MATH1341 |
| Calculus BC | 4 | 8 | MATH1341 & MATH1342 |
| Calculus BC: AB Subscore | 4 | 4 | MATH1341 |
| Chemistry | 4 | 5 | CHEM1161 & CHEM1162 |
| Chinese Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | CHNS2101 |
| Comparative Government and Politics | 4 | 4 | POLS1155 |
| Computer Science A | 4 | 4 | CS1990 |
| Computer Science Principles | 4 | 4 | CS1990 |
| Drawing | 4 | 4 | ARTF1200 & ARTF1990 |
| English Language and Composition | 4 | 4 | ENGW1111 |
| English Literature and Composition | 4 | 4 | ENGW1111 |
| Environmental Science | 4 | 4 | ENVR1101 |
| European History | 4 | 4 | HIST1170 |
| French Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | FRNH2101 |
| German Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | GRMN2101 |
| Human Geography | 4 | 4 | SOCL1990 |
| Italian Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | ITLN2101 |
| Japanese Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | JPNS2101 |
| Latin | 4 | 4 | FLNG1990 |
| Macroeconomics | 4 | 4 | ECON1115 |
| Microeconomics | 4 | 4 | ECON1116 |
| Music Theory | 4 | 4 | MUSC1201 |
| Physics 1 | 4 | 5 | PHYS1145/1146 |
| Physics 2 | 4 | 5 | PHYS1147/1148 |
| Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism | 4 | 5 | PHYS1155/1156 & PHYS1157 |
| Physics C: Mechanics | 4 | 5 | PHYS1151/1152 & 1153 |
| Psychology | 4 | 4 | PSYC1101 |
| Spanish Language and Culture | 4 | 4 | SPNS2101 |
| Spanish Literature and Culture | 4 | 4 | SPNS2101 |
| Statistics | 4 | 4 | MATH2280 |
| United States Government and Politics | 4 | 4 | POLS1150 |
| United States History | 4 | 4 | HIST1130 |
| World History: Modern | 4 | 4 | HIST1990 |
Source: AP credit policy
After college
Graduate within 6 years
91%
Come back for a second year
97%
Typical earnings
$99,371
a year, 10 years after starting here
- Northeastern University$123,077
Median yearly earnings of graduates five years after finishing a bachelor's in this major. 33 majors here have earnings data.
Keep exploring
Figures marked Estimate are our estimates, not numbers the college published. Check each college's own site before you apply. SAT is a trademark of College Board, and ACT is a trademark of ACT, Inc. Sharp is not affiliated with either, or with Northeastern University. The Northeastern University logo is a trademark of the college.