Northeastern University

Yes — Northeastern is now one of the most selective private universities in the country, admitting about 5.6% of applicants in the most recent cycle. It offered admission to roughly 5,920 of more than 105,256 first-year applicants and enrolled about 2,736 students. Admission is holistic, with the rigor of your high school record, academic GPA, test scores (if submitted), and recommendations all weighed as very important factors.

Yes — the Early Decision round admits a far higher share of applicants than the regular pool. Northeastern admitted about 1,910 of 5,404 binding Early Decision applicants (roughly 35%), versus an overall acceptance rate near 5.6%. Northeastern offers both Early Decision I and II (binding) plus a nonbinding Early Action plan, so a committed applicant has a meaningful early advantage.

No. Northeastern is test-optional, so you can apply without scores and won't be disadvantaged for leaving them off. Among enrolled first-years who did submit, the middle 50% scored 1440–1510 on the SAT and 33–34 on the ACT. Submitted scores are still weighed as a very important factor when you include them.

A 1480 is competitive — it sits right in the middle of Northeastern's range, at the 50th percentile of enrolled first-years. The middle 50% scored 1440–1510 on the SAT (33–34 ACT), so a 1480 is worth submitting under the test-optional policy. Because admission is this selective, strong grades, course rigor, and a sharp essay still carry the application alongside the score.

Enrolled first-years average a 4.22 weighted high school GPA, and admitted students cluster at the very top of their classes. Among the roughly 7% of enrolled first-years who reported a class rank, about 40% were in the top tenth of their graduating class and 70% were in the top quarter. There's no hard cutoff, but the rigor of your course load and your academic GPA are both weighed as very important factors.

Yes. Northeastern weighs the application essay in its holistic review alongside character, extracurriculars, work experience, and recommendations. With an acceptance rate near 5.6% and no interview in the process, a specific, well-revised essay is one of the few places a strong applicant can stand out and show fit for Northeastern's co-op-driven model.

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Tuition and required fees run about $72,700 per year, with the total cost of attendance higher once on-campus housing and food (about $22,992) are added. Northeastern meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for first-year students; about 49% of first-years receive need-based grant aid, and the average need-based package is roughly $67,011.

Northeastern is known for its co-op program, which builds up to a full year of paid professional work into the undergraduate degree, and its most-conferred fields reflect that career focus. Business is the single most popular area at about 21% of degrees, followed by computer and information sciences (16%) and engineering (15%), with biological and life sciences, health professions, and social sciences rounding out the top fields.