Northeastern University

www.northeastern.edu/

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2021 Undergraduate Tuition

$56,500

3.94% growth from 2020

2021 Average Net Price

$38,927

After Financial Aid

2019 Student Loan

0.589%

Default Rate

2021 Acceptance Rate

18.4%

75,244 Applicants

2021 Enrolled Students

28,167

95.5% Full-Time

2021 Graduation Rate

90.6%

2,526 Graduates

About

Northeastern University is a higher education institution located in Suffolk County, MA. In 2021, the most popular Bachelors Degree concentrations at Northeastern University were General Business (880 degrees awarded), General Computer & Information Sciences (415 degrees), and Mechanical Engineering (240 degrees).

In 2021, 8,157 degrees were awarded across all undergraduate and graduate programs at Northeastern University. 47.8% of these degrees were awarded to women, and 52.2% awarded men. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients was white (2,952 degrees), 3.38 times more than then the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (874 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Northeastern University is $56,500, which is $27,508 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,992).

Photo by JessT-R

Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity Doctoral Universities

Costs

In 2021, the median undergraduate tuition at Northeastern University is $56,500, which is $27,508 more than the national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,992).

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $38,927.

In 2021, 64% of undergraduate students attending Northeastern University received financial aid through grants. Comparatively, 33% of undergraduate students received financial aid through loans.

Tuition Costs

$56,500

2021 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2021, the cost of tuition at Northeastern University was $56,500. The cost of tuition at Northeastern University is $27,508 more than than the overall (public and private) national average for Doctoral Universities ($28,992).

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

Average Net Price

$38,927

2021 Value

3.15%

1 Year Growth

In 2021 Northeastern University had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $38,927. Between 2020 and 2021, the average net price of Northeastern University grew by 3.15%.

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

$17,480

Room and Board

$1,000

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Northeastern University was of $17,480 in 2021. The cost of room and board increased by 3.25% between 2020 and 2021.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,000. 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 by Income Level

64%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

33%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

64% of undergraduate students at Northeastern University received financial aid through grants or loans in 2021. This represents a growth of 0% with respect to 2020, 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.

0.589%

2019 Default Rate

Number of Defaults

In 2019 the default rate for borrower's at Northeastern University was 0.589%, which represents 26 out of the 4411 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 75,244 undergraduate applications in 2021, which represents a 16.7% annual growth. Out of those 75,244 applicants, 13,829 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 18.4% acceptance rate.

There were 28,167 students enrolled at Northeastern University in 2021. 28% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Northeastern University has an overall enrollment yield of 32.6%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

18.4%

Acceptance Rate in 2021

13,829

Accepted Out of 75,244

In 2021, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Northeastern University was 18.4% (13,829 admissions from 75,244 applications). This is lower than the acceptance rate of 2020, which was 20.5%. Between 2020 and 2021, the number of applicants grew by 16.7%, while admissions grew by 4.77%..

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Northeastern University (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

28%

Submission Percentage (2021)

1,248

Scores Submitted (2021)

28% of enrolled first-time students at Northeastern University in 2021 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 had a total enrollment of 28,167 students in 2021. The full-time enrollment at Northeastern University is 26,900 students and the part-time enrollment is 1,267. This means that 95.5% of students enrolled at Northeastern University are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Northeastern University, both undergraduate and graduate, is 34.5% White, 13.2% Asian, 7.74% Hispanic or Latino, 4.39% Black or African American, 4.02% Two or More Races, 0.0426% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0107% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Northeastern University in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (21.8%), followed by White Male (20.8%) and Asian Female (10.7%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (12.1%), followed by White Male (9.04%) and Asian Female (3.56%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

95.5%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Northeastern University in 2021, both undergraduate and graduate, is 28,167 students. The full-time enrollment at Northeastern University is 26,900 and the part-time enrollment is 1,267. This means that 95.5% of students enrolled at Northeastern University are enrolled full-time compared with 76.6% 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

97%

2021 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 97%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (84%), 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 (2021)

White
9,705 enrolled students
Asian
3,713 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
2,180 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Northeastern University is 34.5% White, 13.2% Asian, 7.74% Hispanic or Latino, 4.39% Black or African American, 4.02% Two or More Races, 0.0426% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.0107% 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 48.9% White, 15.1% Hispanic or Latino, and 9.56% 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, 597 students (2.12%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2021, 361 fewer women than men received degrees from Northeastern University. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Northeastern University is white (2,952 degrees awarded). There were 3.38 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (874 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Northeastern University is General Business (880 degrees awarded), followed by General Computer & Information Sciences (415 degrees) and Mechanical Engineering (240 degrees).

In 2021, 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 (2,819 degrees awarded), Architecture and Related Services (72 degrees), and Math & Statistics (202 degrees).

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 (907,486 people), Other managers (424,832 people), Miscellaneous engineers, including nuclear engineers (364,271 people), Civil engineers (269,397 people), and Mechanical engineers (195,510 people).

The most specialized majors at Northeastern University in 2021 are Engineering (2,819 degrees awarded), Architecture and Related Services (72 degrees), Math & Statistics (202 degrees), Legal (226 degrees), and Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (903 degrees) (as of 2021).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Podiatrists

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 Podiatrists, Surgeons, Physicians, Magnetic resonance imaging technologists, and Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents

The most specialized majors at Northeastern University are Engineering (2,819 degrees awarded), Architecture and Related Services (72 degrees), Math & Statistics (202 degrees), Legal (226 degrees), and Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services (903 degrees) (as of 2021).

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 (985,641 people), Architectural, engineering & related services (574,576 people), Construction (331,117 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (309,488 people), and Elementary & secondary schools (225,136 people).

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 (2021)

General Business
880 degree-majors awarded
General Computer & Information Sciences
415 degree-majors awarded
Mechanical Engineering
240 degree-majors awarded

In 2021, the most common bachelors degree concentration at Northeastern University was General Business with 880 degrees awarded.

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

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

4,259

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2021

3,898

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2021

In 2021, 4,259 degrees were awarded to men at Northeastern University, which is 1.09 times more than the number of degrees awarded to females (3,898).

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

Most Common Male Majors

In 2021, 551 degrees were awarded to men at Northeastern University in General Business, which is 1.17 times more than the 470 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2021, 470 degrees were awarded to men at Northeastern University in General Business, which is 0.853 times less than the 551 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

100% Completion Time

89%

150% Completion Time

In 2021, 0% of students graduating from Northeastern University completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 89% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 90% 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.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

American Indian or Alaska Native Male

Highest Graduation Rate (100%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2021 at Northeastern University is Male and American Indian or Alaska Native (100% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (72.9%).

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, 5.3% of graduates (134 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2021)

White
2,952 degrees awarded
Asian
874 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
441 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Northeastern University is white (2,952 degrees awarded). There were 3.38 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, asian (874 degrees).

3.7% of degree recipients (302 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2021)

White Female
1,510 degrees awarded
White Male
1,442 degrees awarded
Asian Female
499 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Northeastern University is white female (1,510 degrees awarded). There were 1.05 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white male (1442 degrees).

Operations

Northeastern University has an endowment valued at nearly $1.47B, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 413M (28.1%) compared to the 10.4% average return (40.5M on 388M) across all Doctoral Universities.

In 2021, Northeastern University had a total salary expenditure of 1.44B. Northeastern University employs 454 Associate professors, 449 Professors and 346 Assistant professors. Most academics at Northeastern University are Male Professor (298), Male Associate professor (267), and Female Associate professor (187).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Northeastern University are: Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services, with 643 employees, Business and Financial Operations, with 561 employees, and Computer, Engineering, and Science with 467 employees.

Endowment

$1.47B

2021 Endowment

35%

growth from 2020

Northeastern University has an endowment valued at about $1.47B, as of the end of the 2021 fiscal year. The endowment of Northeastern University grew 35% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $1.08B 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.

Salary Expenditure

$626M

2021 Salaries

7.44%

growth from 2020

In 2021, Northeastern University paid a median of $626M in salaries, which represents 43.4% of their overall expenditure ($1.44B) and a 7.44% growth from the previous year.

The median for similar Doctoral Universities is 234M (42.8% of overall expenditures).

Instructional Salaries

$196M

Instructional Salaries

1,519

Number of Employees

In 2021, Northeastern University paid a total of $196M to 1,519 employees working as instructors, which represents 31.4% of all salaries paid.

This is compared to a median of $71M (30.3%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

Occupations by Share

Associate professor

Most Common Instructor

454 Employees

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

Most Common Non-Instructional Employee

643 Employees

In 2021, the most common positions for instructional staff at Northeastern University were Associate professor with 454 employees, Professor with 449 employees, and Assistant professor with 346 employees.

In 2021, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Northeastern University were Librarians, Curators, Archivists, and Academic Affairs and Other Education Services with 643 employees, Business and Financial Operations with 561 employees, and Computer, Engineering, and Science with 467 employees.

Instructors by Academic Rank and Sex

Most Common Demographic (2021)

Male Professor
Male Associate professor
Female Associate professor

In 2021, the most common demographic for instructional staff at Northeastern University was Male Professor with 298 employees, Male Associate professor with 267 employees, and Female Associate professor with 187 employees.

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