Northeastern University

Add Comparison

2019 Undergraduate Tuition

$52,420

3.9% growth from 2018

2019 Average Net Price

$36,479

After Financial Aid

2017 Student Loan

2.26%

Default Rate

2019 Acceptance Rate

18.1%

62,263 Applicants

2019 Enrolled Students

22,207

96.4% Full-Time

2019 Graduation Rate

89.1%

2,572 Graduates

About

Northeastern University is a higher education institution located in Suffolk County, MA. In 2016, the most popular Bachelor's Degree concentrations at Northeastern University were General Business (900 degrees awarded), General Computer & Information Sciences (248 degrees), and Mechanical Engineering (222 degrees).

In 2019, 7,454 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Northeastern University. 47.4% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 52.6% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (2,848 degrees), 3.93 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (725 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Northeastern University is $52,420, which is $23,920 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,500).

Photo by JessT-R

Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

The median undergraduate tuition at Northeastern University is $52,420, which is $23,920 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,500).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $36,479.

In 2019, 63% of undergraduate students received federal grants, while 33% of undergraduate students received federal loans.

Student Expenses

Tuition Costs

$52,420

2019 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2019, the cost of tuition at Northeastern University was $52,420. The cost of tuition at Northeastern University is $23,920 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,500).

This chart compares the tuition costs of Northeastern University (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$36,479

2019 Value

6.52%

1 Year Growth

In 2019 Northeastern University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $36,479. Between 2018 and 2019, the average net price of Northeastern University grew by 6.52%.

This chart compares the average net price of Northeastern University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$16,270

Room and Board

$1,000

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Northeastern University was of $16,270 in 2019. During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,000. The cost of room and board increased by 3.9% between 2018 and 2019. The cost of books and supplies did not change during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Northeastern University (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid

Financial Aid by Income Level

63%

Of Undergraduates Receive Grants

33%

Of Undergraduates Receive Federal Loans

63% of undergraduate students at Northeastern University received grants or loans in 2019. This represents a decline of 1.56% with respect to 2018, when 64% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Northeastern University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Student Loan Default Rate

Cohort default rates only account for borrowers who default in the first three years, and some schools only have a small proportion of borrowers entering repayment. These rates should be interpreted with caution, as they may not be reflective of the entire school population.

2.26%

2017 Default Rate

116

Number of Defaults

In 2017 the default rate for borrower's at Northeastern University was 2.26%, which represents 116 out of the 5142 total borrowers.

A cohort default rate is the percentage of a school's borrowers who enter repayment on certain Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) Program or William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program loans during a particular federal fiscal year (FY), October 1 to September 30, and default or meet other specified conditions prior to the end of the second following fiscal year.

Admissions

Northeastern University received 62,263 undergraduate applications in 2019, which represents a 0.0145% annual decline. Out of those 62,263 applicants, 11,240 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 18.1% acceptance rate.

There were 22,207 students enrolled at Northeastern University in 2019, and 55% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Northeastern University has an overall enrollment yield of 26.7%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

18.1%

Acceptance Rate in 2019

11,240

Accepted Out of 62,263

In 2019, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Northeastern University was 18.1% (11,240 admissions from 62,263 applications). This is lower than the acceptance rate of 2018, which was 19.3%. Between 2018 and 2019, the number of applicants declined by -0.0145%, while admissions declined by -6.66%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Northeastern University (in red) with that of other similar universities.

SAT Scores

55%

Submission Percentage

1,657

Scores Submitted

55% of enrolled first-time students at Northeastern University in 2019 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

This chart shows the SAT scores for the 25th and 75th percentile of applicants broken out into each section of the test that their are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Northeastern University has a total enrollment of 22,207 students. The full-time enrollment at Northeastern University is 21,397 students and the part-time enrollment is 810. This means that 96.4% of students enrolled at Northeastern University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Northeastern University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 37.7% White, 11% Asian, 6.76% Hispanic or Latino, 3.58% Two or More Races, 3.38% Black or African American, 0.0405% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0225% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Northeastern University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Male (22.4%), followed by White Female (21.7%) and Asian Female (7.76%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (12.3%), followed by White Male (9.89%) and Asian Female (3.13%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

96.4%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Northeastern University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 22,207 students. The full-time enrollment at Northeastern University is 21,397 and the part-time enrollment is 810. This means that 96.4% of students enrolled at Northeastern University are enrolled full-time compared with 77.6% at similar Doctoral Universities.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Northeastern University (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

99%

2019 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. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Northeastern University was 99%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (83%), Northeastern University had a retention rate higher than its peers.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Northeastern University (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity

White
8,367
Asian
2,452
Hispanic or Latino
1,501

The enrolled student population at Northeastern University is 37.7% White, 11% Asian, 6.76% Hispanic or Latino, 3.58% Two or More Races, 3.38% Black or African American, 0.0405% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0225% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 50.3% White, 14.3% Hispanic or Latino, and 9.48% Black or African American.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 1,128 students (5.08%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2019, 382 fewer women than men received degrees from Northeastern University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Northeastern University is white (2,848 degrees awarded). There were 3.93 times more white graduates than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (725 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Northeastern University is General Business (900 degrees awarded), followed by General Computer & Information Sciences (248 degrees) and Mechanical Engineering (222 degrees).

The most specialized majors across all degree types at Northeastern University, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Engineering (2,231 degrees awarded), Architecture and Related Services (88 degrees), and Legal (248 degrees).

Workforce

Common Jobs by Major

Software developers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Northeastern University are Software developers (951,814 people), Other managers (569,870 people), Miscellaneous engineers, including nuclear engineers (358,567 people), Lawyers, & judges, magistrates, & other judicial workers (336,162 people), and Civil engineers (280,629 people).

The most specialized majors at Northeastern University are Engineering (2,231 degrees awarded), Architecture and Related Services (88 degrees), Legal (248 degrees), Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (666 degrees), and Social Sciences (515 degrees).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Northeastern University are Surgeons, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, Physicians, Cardiovascular technologists and technicians, and Diagnostic medical sonographers

Common Industries by Major

Computer Systems Design

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Northeastern University are Computer Systems Design (1,061,405 people), Architectural, engineering & related services (596,065 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (426,334 people), Construction (404,062 people), and Elementary & secondary schools (360,775 people).

Degrees

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Northeastern University.

Most Common

General Business
900 degree-majorss awarded
General Computer & Information Sciences
248 degree-majorss awarded
Mechanical Engineering
222 degree-majorss awarded

In 2019, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Northeastern University was General Business with 900 degree-majorss awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from bachelors degree programs at Northeastern University according to their major.

Gender Breakdown for Common Majors

3,918

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2019

3,536

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2019

In 2019, 3,918 degrees were awarded to men at Northeastern University, which is 1.11 times more than the number of degrees awarded to females (3,536).

This chart displays the gender disparity between the top 5 majors at Northeastern University by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2019, 576 degrees were awarded to men at Northeastern University in General Business, which is 1.22 times more than the 474 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2019, 474 degrees were awarded to women at Northeastern University in General Business, which is 0.823 times less than the 576 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

100% Completion Time

87%

150% Completion Time

In 2019, 0% of students graduating from Northeastern University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 87% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 88% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Diversity

Graduation Rate by Race and Gender

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

White Female

Highest Graduation Rate (94.2%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate at Northeastern University is Female and White (94.2% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (70.6%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 8.01% of graduates (206 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity

White
2,848 degrees awarded
Asian
725 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
437 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Northeastern University is white (2,848 degrees awarded). There were 3.93 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (725 degrees).

4.95% of degree recipients (369 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Gender

Most Common Gender Demographic

White Female
1,450 degrees awarded
White Male
1,398 degrees awarded
Asian Female
407 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and gender grouping at Northeastern University is white female (1,450 degrees awarded). There were 1.04 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (1,398 degrees).

Operations

Northeastern University has an endowment valued at nearly $1.07B, as of the end of the 2019 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of $78.3M (7.29%), compared to the 4.24% average return ($13.2M on $311M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2019, Northeastern University had a total salary expenditure of $1.27B. Northeastern University employs 400 Associate professors, 399 Professors, and 315 Assistant professors. Most academics at Northeastern University are Male Professors (277), Male Associate professors(235), and Female Associate professors (165).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Northeastern University are: Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services, with 553 employees, Business and Financial Operations, with 538 employees, and Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 438 employees.

Finances

Endowment

$1.07B

2019 Endowment

26.8%

growth from 2018

Northeastern University has an endowment valued at about $1.07B, as of the end of the 2019 fiscal year. The endowment of Northeastern University grew 26.8% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $764M higher than than the median endowment of Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Northeastern University (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Carnegie Classification grouping.

Government Grants and Contracts

Grants & Contracts

$138M - Federal
$2.99M - State
$0 - Local

As of 2019, Northeastern University received $138M in grants and contracts from the federal government, $2.99M from state grants and contracts, and $0 from local grants and contracts.

Expenses

Salary Expenditure

$551M

2019 Salaries

7.23%

growth from 2018

In 2019, Northeastern University paid a median of $551M in salaries, which represents 43.3% of their overall expenditure ($1.27B) and a 7.23% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 7.11% growth from 2017 and a 6.4% growth from 2016.

The median for similar Doctoral Universities is 234M (42.4% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$172M

Instructional Salaries

1,350

Number of Employees

In 2019, Northeastern University paid a total of $172M to 1,350 employees working as instructors, which represents 31.3% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $71.1M (30.3%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Faculty and Staff

Occupations by Share

Associate professor

Most Common Instructor

400 Employees

Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

553 Employees

In 2019, the most common positions for instructional staff at Northeastern University were Associate professor with 400 employees; Professor with 399 employees; and Professor with 315 employees.

In 2019, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Northeastern University were Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services with 553 employees; Business and Financial Operations with 538 employees; and Community, Social Service, Legal, Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports and Media with 438 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Gender

Most Common Demographic

Male Professor
Male Associate professor
Female Associate professor

In 2019, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Northeastern University was Male Professor with 277 employees, Male Associate professor with 235 employees, and Female Associate professor with 165 employees.

This chart shows the gender split between each academic rank present at Northeastern University.

Keep Exploring

Georgetown University

University

Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus

University

Emory University

University

University of Notre Dame

University

Case Western Reserve University

University