R1 ResearchPrivate nonprofit

Northeastern University

Boston, Massachusetts·Private not-for-profit, 4-year or above·New England·northeastern.edu
6-yr Graduation
91%
-1.5pp vs R1 Research
Total enrollment
32,553
peer median 22,846
Avg net price
$30,915
+$3.3k vs R1 Research
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AdmissionsOutcomesProgram outcomesAccreditationCostFederal aidLoan defaultsAcademic programsEnrollment trendsAthleticsCampus safetyFacultyPeersCampusesIR OfficeCommon Data Set

Admissions & acceptance rate

First-time freshman admissions: how selective the college is, and how many admitted students choose to enroll.

IPEDS
Applied
98,425
98,425 candidates competed
Admitted
5,133
5.2% acceptance rate
Enrolled
2,759
53.8% yield

Graduation rate & outcomes

Completion, retention, and the equity gap between Pell and non-Pell students.

IPEDS
Overall completion
91%-1.5pp vs R1 Research
4-year graduation
0%
6-year graduation (bachelor’s)
91%
Full-time retention
97%

Pell equity

0.6pp gap
Pell recipients
90%279 of 311
Non-Pell (all)
91%2200 of 2427
Subsidized loan, no Pell
92%580 of 631
No Federal Aid
90%1620 of 1796

Pell and non-Pell students graduate at nearly identical rates, a notably small equity gap.

Source: IPEDS Graduation Rates (GR) — Pell/SSL cohort, 2024 cohort.

Program outcomes

Federal Program Performance Data: how each program's graduate earnings and debt measure up under Financial Value Transparency and Gainful Employment.

FVT/GE

Of 275 Title IV programs, 75 pass the federal Gainful Employment test and 1 fails. 199 have graduate earnings too small to publish, so they carry no pass/fail verdict.

Total programs
275
Passing
75
27.3% of portfolio
Failing (GE)
1
0.4% of portfolio
Fail rate
0.4%
-0.2pp vs 0.6% national

Pass / fail distribution

275programs
  • Passing75 · 27.3%
  • No Data199 · 72.4%
  • Failing1 · 0.4%

Severity spectrum

Critical
0
Severe
0
Recoverable
1
At Risk
0
Watch
2
Safe
73
No data
199

Tiers band programs by how far graduate earnings sit above or below the benchmark, from Critical (below −15%) through Safe (above +25%). No data means earnings were privacy-suppressed.

Earnings premium gap

Graduate earnings versus the federal benchmark, worst gaps first.

76
Ecology Evolution Systematics and Population Biology
Master's Degree · Biological And Biomedical Sciences
-0.9%
$53,164 vs $53,672
Nutrition Sciences
Master's Degree · Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
+16.5%
$62,427 vs $53,607
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
Master's Degree · Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
+18.0%
$70,914 vs $60,112
Public Health
Master's Degree · Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
+35.1%
$81,227 vs $60,112
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions
First Professional Degree · Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
+40.0%
$84,174 vs $60,112
Teacher Education and Professional Development Specific Levels and Methods
Master's Degree · Education
+40.4%
$65,134 vs $46,391
Business Administration Management and Operations
Master's Degree · Business, Management, Marketing, And Related Support Services
+40.9%
$84,704 vs $60,112
Sports Kinesiology and Physical Education/Fitness
Master's Degree · Parks, Recreation, Leisure, And Fitness Studies
+43.0%
$73,724 vs $51,545

Near the line (±5%)

Programs within five points of the pass line, one cohort year from flipping.

1
Ecology Evolution Systematics and Population Biology
Master's Degree · Biological And Biomedical Sciences
-0.9%
−$508

Debt vs earnings

Median completer debt against median graduate earnings, highest burden first.

59
Clinical Counseling and Applied Psychology
Graduate Certificate · Psychology
96%
$71,184 debt · $74,263 earn
Law
First Professional Degree · Legal Professions And Studies
72%
$84,223 debt · $116,706 earn
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services
Master's Degree · Health Professions And Related Clinical Sciences
58%
$41,000 debt · $70,914 earn
Nutrition Sciences
Master's Degree · Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies
56%
$34,646 debt · $62,427 earn
Clinical Counseling and Applied Psychology
Master's Degree · Psychology
53%
$41,000 debt · $76,859 earn
Teacher Education and Professional Development Specific Levels and Methods
Master's Degree · Education
51%
$33,398 debt · $65,134 earn
Sports Kinesiology and Physical Education/Fitness
Master's Degree · Parks, Recreation, Leisure, And Fitness Studies
47%
$34,981 debt · $73,724 earn
Public Administration
Master's Degree · Public Administration And Social Service Professions
47%
$41,000 debt · $87,852 earn

Accreditation status & history

Who accredits the institution, current standing, and any past actions.

DAPIP
AccreditedInstitutional accreditor

New England Commission of Higher Education

Accredited since 1940Next review Jun 2029

Programmatic accreditations · 16

Action history · 18

  1. Oct 2024Renewal of Accreditation
    American Physical Therapy Association, Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education · Physical Therapy (PT) - Professional programs for the physical therapist
  2. Sep 2024Renewal of Accreditation
    Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education · Nursing (CNURED) - Nursing education programs at the graduate degree levels
  3. Sep 2024Renewal of Accreditation
    Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education · Nursing (CNURED) - Nursing education programs at the baccalaureate degree levels
  4. May 2024Renewal of Accreditation
    Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs · Nurse Anesthesia (ANEST) - Institutions and programs at the master's degree, post master's certificate or doctoral degree levels
  5. Feb 2024Renewal of Accreditation
    American Bar Association, Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar · Law (LAW) - Professional schools

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Tuition & cost

What families actually pay, broken down by family income.

College Scorecard

Net price by family income

Aid exceeds costFamily pays
$0–30k$2,264
$30–48k$2,436
$48–75k$5,301
$75–110k$16,241
$110k+$47,696

Negative values mean aid exceeds the published cost of attendance for that income band.

Avg net price (private)
$30,915
+$3,257vs R1 Research median $27,659
Federal loans
27.3%
In-state tuition
$66,162
Out-of-state
$66,162

Federal aid volume & trends

Pell grants and federal Direct Loan volume disbursed to students, and how they've trended.

Federal Student Aid

In AY 2024–25, 4,022 students received $29.6M in Pell grants, alongside $169.4M in federal Direct Loans.

Pell recipients
4,022
AY 2024–25
Pell disbursed
$29.6M
$29,590,925 total
Direct Loans
$169.4M
13,322 loan awards

Pell recipients · 5-year trend

3k
’20
3k
’21
3k
’22
3k
’23
4k
’24

Loan volume by type · AY 2024–25

Subsidized$13.4M
3,173 loan awards
Unsubsidized · UG$24.5M
5,253 loan awards
Unsubsidized · Grad$54.4M
2,831 loan awards
Parent PLUS$33.0M
902 loan awards
Grad PLUS$44.0M
1,163 loan awards

Loan awards count each loan type a student holds, not unique borrowers; one student may carry several (e.g. subsidized and unsubsidized), so the per-type figures are the reliable detail.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Student loan default rate

The share of student borrowers who default on federal loans within three years, against the national benchmark.

Cohort Default Rate

Of 4,411 borrowers who entered repayment, 26 (0.5%) defaulted within three years — below the 2.3% national rate.

Default rate
0.5%
-1.8pp vs 2.3% national
Borrowers in repayment
4,411
Defaulted
26
Measurement window
3 years
Federal CDR standard

Default rate vs national, by cohort

2016
2.0%
2017
2.2%
2018
1.5%
2019
0.5%
2020*
0.0%
This institutionNational rate

* Cohorts 2020 and later read near 0% because the federal COVID-19 payment pause (CARES Act) suspended defaults nationwide. These years reflect a national policy, not institutional performance; the 2019 cohort is the last measured under normal repayment.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Academic programs at Northeastern

Top program areas ranked by completions.

IPEDS
Distinct CIP programs173
UndergraduateOffered
GraduateOffered

Top program families by completions

12,173 total completions
01Engineering
3,73230.7%
02Computer Sciences
2,64821.8%
03Business
1,85715.3%
04Health Professions
1,1419.4%
05Biological Sciences
1,1279.3%
06Social Sciences
6385.2%
07Mathematics
3082.5%
08Psychology
2622.2%
09Legal Professions
2492.0%
10Communication
2111.7%

Enrollment trends & demographics

Fall headcount, 12-month unduplicated enrollment, and student body composition.

IPEDS
Fall total
32,553
12-mo unduplicated
43,059
Undergraduate
24,663
Graduate
18,396

Gender split

Men
47%20,438
Women
53%22,621

Race / ethnicity composition

White
39.9%
Asian
22.3%
Non-resident
13.6%
Hispanic
10.4%
Two or more
6.8%
Black
5.0%
Unknown
2.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native
0.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander
0.1%

Athletics & Title IX gender equity

How athletic participation, aid, and spending are split between men and women.

EADA
Athletes
542
253 M · 289 W
Women athletes
53.3%
Athletic aid
$17.1M
Total student aid
Budget
$39.8M
Total expenses

Men vs women · spending splits

Athletic student aid
$7.6M
$9.5M
Recruiting expense
$206K
$185K
Head-coach salaries
$256K
$141K
Men Women

Sport-by-sport · 9

Track and Field and Cross Country (combined)
129 M · 141 W
$3.0M
Rowing
54 M · 62 W
$5.1M
Soccer
33 M · 33 W
$2.9M
Ice Hockey
28 M · 29 W
$7.1M
Baseball
43 M · —
$2.3M
Swimming and Diving (combined)
— · 35 W
$1.2M

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Campus safety & crime statistics

Reported on-campus crimes over the last three years, including violence and hate crimes.

Clery Act
Criminal offenses · per 1,000 students
1.32
41 offenses · 31,159 students

3-year trend

2.382 yrs ago1.331 yr ago1.32Latest
Offenses · 3-yr
148
Last three years
VAWA · 3-yr
93
DV, dating, stalking
Hate crimes · 3-yr
14
Res-hall fires · 3-yr
12

Criminal offenses by type

Rape
11
Burglary
8
Aggravated assault
8
Motor vehicle theft
6
Robbery
5
Fondling
3

By location

41total
  • On campus26
  • Non-campus1
  • Public property14

Includes 13 in residence halls (a subset of on-campus, not added to the total).

VAWA offenses

6
Domestic violence
8
Dating violence
14
Stalking
28 total under the Violence Against Women Act.

Hate crimes by bias

  • Religion1
  • National origin1

Arrests vs disciplinary referrals

CategoryArrestsReferrals
Weapons31
Drugs83
Liquor0221

Residence-hall fires

  • Smith Hall1 fire
    ElectricalDamage $0-$99
  • Speare Hall1 fire
    Smoking materialsDamage $0-$99
  • 10 Coventry Street1 fire
    CookingDamage $100-$999

Data quality: 2 reports were later determined unfounded across the reporting period and are excluded from the totals above.

Source: U.S. Dept. of Education

Student-faculty ratio

Student-to-faculty ratio and instructional staff counts.

IPEDS
Student-to-faculty
16.0:1
Instructional staff (full-time equivalent)
1,671

Northeastern vs Peer comparison

The peer institutions Northeastern selected for federal comparison reporting.

IPEDS
GraduationRetentionSelectivityEnrollmentAffordabilityYield
This institutionPeer median

A larger shape on any axis means this institution outperforms its peers on that dimension. For acceptance rate and net price, lower raw values are inverted so "more selective" and "more affordable" appear larger.

Carnegie
SubjectNortheastern University
91%—32,553$30,915R1 Research
Boston University
89%11.1%37,737$24,402R1 Research
Harvard University
98%3.6%30,259$19,066R1 Research
Boston College
91%16.4%15,432$41,704R1 Research
Tufts University
94%11.5%13,599$39,998R1 Research
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
96%4.5%11,886$20,111R1 Research
Peer group median93%11.1%22,846$27,659

Institutions like Northeastern

Explore the federal data for institutions in Northeastern's comparison group.

IPEDS

Campuses

The 2 campuses that make up Northeastern University.

IPEDS

Northeastern Institutional Research office

The IR team responsible for the institution's federal reporting.

Office
Program Assessment and Review
Reports to University Decision Support
Address
101 Belvidere Street, Boston, MA 02115

The office aims to enhance collaboration in program assessment and review, accreditation support, program quality metrics, and adoption of new technologies, supporting data-informed decision making and excellence in teaching and learning.

Visit IR office page
Team
6 members
  • Maureen O’Shea
    Associate Vice Provost – Institutional Assessment & Evaluation
  • Mindy Anastasia
    Senior Director of Institutional Research
  • Mike Carlucci
    Assistant Director – Institutional Research
  • Jes Caron
    Associate Director – Academic Program Review
  • CJ Carbery
    Assessment Technical Specialist
  • Meegan Willi

Common Data Set

Northeastern's own annual Common Data Set: the most detailed self-reported reference for selectivity, cost, outcomes, and the student body.

Source publications

Frequently asked questions about Northeastern University

Quick answers to the questions most often asked about Northeastern.

What is the graduation rate at Northeastern University?

Northeastern University reports a 6-year graduation rate of 91% per the latest IPEDS.

How many students attend Northeastern University?

Northeastern University reports a total enrollment of 32,553 students per the latest IPEDS.

What is the average net price at Northeastern University?

The average net price at Northeastern University is $30,915 per the latest College Scorecard. Net price is the published cost of attendance minus grant aid.

What is the yield rate at Northeastern University?

Northeastern University's yield rate is 53.8%, the share of admitted students who enrolled, per the latest IPEDS.

Where is Northeastern University located?

Northeastern University is located in Boston, Massachusetts 02115-5005.

Who runs Institutional Research at Northeastern University?

Northeastern University's IR work is done by the Program Assessment and Review, which reports to University Decision Support.

About the data on this page

Every figure comes from an official federal or public source. Here is each one and the release it is currently on.

IPEDS2025 provisional data (Fall 2025–26 release, July 28, 2026)
Enrollment, completions, graduation rates, tuition, financial aid, staffing, and finance for every U.S. institution in federal student aid programs.
National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education
College ScorecardJune 10, 2026 release (merged 2025–26 files)
Institution and field-of-study costs, graduate earnings, debt, completion, and admissions outcomes compiled from federal aid records, tax data, and IPEDS.
U.S. Department of Education
FVT/GE program performanceProvisional preview, May 18, 2026 release
Program-level debt-to-earnings and earnings-premium measures behind the FVT/GE and STATS accountability frameworks.
U.S. Department of Education
DAPIP accreditationContinuously refreshed
Accreditation status for institutions and programs, reported by recognized accrediting agencies.
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education
Federal Pell Grant volumeAY 2025–26 (through Q3), through March 31, 2026
Pell Grant recipient counts, award amounts, and disbursements by institution and award year.
U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid
Federal student loan volumeAY 2025–26 (through Q3), through March 31, 2026
Federal Direct Loan recipient counts and disbursement volume by institution and award year.
U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid
Cohort Default RatesFY 2022 official rates
Institution-level federal student loan default rates, measuring borrowers who default within three years of entering repayment.
U.S. Department of Education, Federal Student Aid
Equity in Athletics (EADA)Academic year 2024–25
Athletics participation, coaching, revenues, and expenses by sport and gender for Title IV institutions.
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education
Campus Safety & SecurityData through reporting year 2024
Criminal offenses, arrests, disciplinary actions, VAWA offenses, and fire statistics reported by campus under the Clery Act.
U.S. Department of Education, Office of Postsecondary Education
Last reviewed July 2026All data sources & release dates →

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