Payback
EarningsPlus
Economic score
Northeastern University is a private national university located in Boston, Massachusetts. Northeastern University is very selective in their admissions.
Return on educational investment at Northeastern University is in the top 25% of all ranked schools. The median student earns $79,786 10 years after enrolling, 11th in Massachusetts, and in the top 5% nationally. When adjusted for earning differences by major, Northeastern University bachelor students earn 26% more than the national average. Northeastern University is ranked 14th in Massachusetts.
Northeastern University’s median net annual cost of $29,714 and average years to graduate of 5.3 are reported only at the school level. We assume these same costs and graduation time for all programs.
The top 6 programs at Northeastern University sorted by number of graduates - Business and Commerce, Computer and Information Sciences, Mechanical Engineering, Economics, Comms & Media Studies, Computer Engineering - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Annual net cost
$29,714
Average years to graduate
5.3
International Business
Rank: #14
Economic score: 1.8
Industrial Engineering
Rank: #67
Economic score: 2.79
Chemical Engineering
Rank: #125
Economic score: 2.83
Biology
Rank: #53
Economic score: 2.96
Civil Engineering
Rank: #183
Economic score: 3.08
Registered Nursing
Rank: #513
Economic score: 3.13
Research&Experimental Psych
Rank: #13
Economic score: 4.7
Poli Sci/Government
Rank: #207
Economic score: 4.84
Neurobiology & Neurosciences
Rank: #23
Economic score: 6.21
Health Administrative Services
Rank: #108
Economic score: 7.06
EarningPlus compares the three-year post graduate earnings to the median earnings of the same graduating class, with the same graduate degree. These 2 metrics, debt-to-earnings and EarningsPlus, are combined into an economic score. The lower the economic score the better.
The most popular 6 graduate programs at Northeastern University - Computer and Information Sciences, Business and Commerce, Mechanical Engineering, Registered Nursing, Accounting, Criminal Justice - are shown below. To see more programs, click on "see additional programs".
Taxation
Rank: #1
Economic score: 0.15
Pharmaceutical Sciences
Rank: #2
Economic score: 0.28
Finance
Rank: #29
Economic score: 0.51
Health & Fitness
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 0.64
Public Administration
Rank: #119
Economic score: 0.71
Diagnostic, Intervention & Treatment
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 0.72
Clinical / Counseling Psych
Rank: #87
Economic score: 0.84
Student Counseling
Rank: -
When a school's graduation rate falls in the bottom 25% in the country, we do not display an economic ranking.
Economic score: 1.11
Journalism
Rank: #17
Economic score: 1.35
Ecology & Evolution
Rank: #20
Economic score: 2.02
The average full-time graduate completes their degree in 5.3 years. 89% of all students graduate within 8 years. The graduation rate at Northeastern University is 17% higher than the state average, and 21% above the average for all national universities in the country.
At Northeastern University, Pell Grant recipients represent 11% of the measured graduating class, 24% lower than the national average of 35%. The average Pell Grant recipient at Northeastern University graduates within 5.2 years.
Northeastern University is in the bottom 10% of schools for graduating Pell recipients.
We calculate this performance by adjusting the graduation rate of Pell students by their percentage of the student body. This adjustment is made to prevent schools with large numbers of Pell students from underperforming in comparison to schools with few Pell students but high graduation rates.
Northeastern University’s economic mobility score of 9.99 is calculated by adjusting the 1.13 economic score of lower-income students by the 11% pell grant recipients within the student body. Northeastern University’s EMS of 9.99 ranks in the bottom 50% nationally.false
Economic Mobility
To calculate economic mobility of low-income (household earnings below $30,000) students, we adjust each institution’s economic score by their percentage of Pell Grant students. The logic of this Pell-adjusted calculation is derived from Third Way’s Economic Mobility Index (EMI).
Bottom 50%
The average Title IV recipient at Northeastern University pays $29,714 a year, $46,018 less than the $75,732 advertised. See below the cost breakdown for students who receive Title IV grants, broken down by income level.
Average net price
The average net price shown by income level for all students that receive Title IV aid. Calculated by deducting the average grant and scholarship aid from tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Limited to first-time, full-time students. Public institution figures are calculated using in-state tuition figures.
Median net price $29,714
Much of the gap between net price and sticker price is filled by institutional and government grants. At Northeastern University, 80% of students receive some grants and scholarships, compared to the national average of 87% for all colleges and universities. The average amount of federal, state, and institutional grants that students receive is shown on the right.
This leaves a total of $29,714 on average to be covered by the student – be it through loans or out of pocket. In total, 45% of students take out loans, federal or private, at an average amount of $8,086. This is 9% less than the national average.
Federal grants
$5,154
Pell grants
$5,788
State grants
$3,079
Institutional grants
$34,588
Northeastern University's very selective admissions are indicated by their 18% acceptance rate. In 2021, the school had 75,244 applicants, of which 13,829 were admitted and 4,504 enrolled. Northeastern University has a rolling admissions policy, which means applications are reviewed as they arrive until all spaces are filled.
Full time
100%
83%
Female
54%
59%
First time
81%
59%
In-state
21%
68%
1st generation
19%
35%
White
45%
52%
Black
4%
14%
Hispanic
9%
15%
Asian
17%
5%
American Indian
N/A
1.6%
Pacific Islander
N/A
0.3%
Other
24%
12%