National university
#5 Best colleges for criminal justice in AmericaNortheastern University
Boston, MA · Private nonprofit · 4-year
Your real cost
Average price after aid $30,915 a year
Median debt at graduation: $24,250 (all students)
Estimate your own price · the college’s net price calculator
Campus tour
Northeastern University Campus Tour | Boston Campus · From the college’s official YouTube channel. Plays from YouTube when you tap it.
Rankings
Where this college places on our top lists. Lists are worked out from official data and our own research; places in the top quarter of each list are shown. See every list
In America
- Best colleges for criminal justice in America#5 of 1,046
- Best colleges for finance in America#10 of 744
- Best colleges for nursing in America#15 of 1,068
- Most selective colleges in America#10 of 683
- Best colleges for business in America#32 of 1,563
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in America#31 of 1,238
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- Lowest net price for middle-income families in America#19 of 682
- Best colleges in America#62 of 1,829
- Best colleges for psychology in America#53 of 1,418
- Best test-optional colleges in America#56 of 1,481
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in America#55 of 1,358
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in America#75 of 1,829
- Best colleges for English in America#55 of 1,283
- Best colleges for art and design in America#53 of 1,187
- Best colleges for history in America#58 of 1,247
- Best colleges for mathematics in America#58 of 1,215
- Best colleges for chemistry in America#58 of 1,162
- Best large colleges in America#13 of 256
- Best colleges for music in America#54 of 1,063
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in America#58 of 1,116
- Best colleges for engineering in America#43 of 749
- Colleges where the most freshmen return in America#48 of 693
- Best colleges for economics in America#58 of 788
- Colleges with the biggest discount off the sticker price in America#52 of 690
- Best colleges for NCAA Division I athletes in America#31 of 367
- Best colleges in the Boston area#7 of 51
- Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in America#84 of 598
- Colleges that spend the most on teaching in America#144 of 704
In Massachusetts
- Most selective colleges in Massachusetts#3 of 46
- Lowest net price for middle-income families in Massachusetts#3 of 45
- Best colleges for nursing in Massachusetts#2 of 24
- Best colleges for criminal justice in Massachusetts#3 of 31
- Best colleges for business in Massachusetts#5 of 50
- Best colleges for communications and journalism in Massachusetts#4 of 38
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- Colleges where the most freshmen return in Massachusetts#5 of 46
- Best test-optional colleges in Massachusetts#7 of 59
- Best colleges for finance in Massachusetts#3 of 23
- Best colleges in Massachusetts#9 of 67
- Best colleges for psychology in Massachusetts#8 of 51
- Colleges with the highest graduation rates in Massachusetts#11 of 67
- Best colleges for art and design in Massachusetts#8 of 44
- Best colleges for biology and pre-med in Massachusetts#9 of 47
- Best colleges for English in Massachusetts#9 of 46
- Best colleges for history in Massachusetts#9 of 46
- Best colleges for mathematics in Massachusetts#9 of 43
- Colleges with the biggest discount off the sticker price in Massachusetts#10 of 47
- Best colleges for political science and pre-law in Massachusetts#9 of 41
- Best colleges for chemistry in Massachusetts#9 of 40
- Best colleges for engineering in Massachusetts#5 of 22
- Best colleges for economics in Massachusetts#9 of 39
- Colleges that pay for themselves fastest in Massachusetts#9 of 38
Academic Excellence
Each measure counts for the share shown.
- Graduation rate 35% of scoreThis measure counts for 35% of the Academic Excellence score.91%
- First-year retention 20% of scoreThis measure counts for 20% of the Academic Excellence score.97%
- Entering students' test scores 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.SAT 1,497 · ACT 34
- Student-to-faculty ratio 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.16 to 1
- Instructional spending per student 15% of scoreThis measure counts for 15% of the Academic Excellence score.$21,813
Bars show points on each measure’s scale. How Academic Excellence is computed.
Source: College Scorecard (College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026))
What families pay, by income
Average yearly price after grants and scholarships, for students who receive federal aid.
| Family income | Price after aid |
|---|---|
| Up to $30,000 | |
| $30,001–$48,000 | |
| $48,001–$75,000 | |
| $75,001–$110,000 | |
| Over $110,000 |
Full cost of attendance before aid: $84,641 a year.
Use the college’s net price calculator for your own estimate.
Cost and value
Federal data: what families pay after aid, what graduates earn, and what they owe.
| Undergraduate students Fall enrollment (IPEDS) | 15,891 |
|---|---|
| Men and women College Scorecard, fall 2023 | Men 43% · Women 57% |
| First-generation students College Scorecard | 19% |
| Total students | 31,159 |
| Average net price (per year) After grants and scholarships, for students receiving federal aid | $30,915 |
| Cost of attendance (per year) | $84,641 |
| Median federal debt at graduation | $24,250 |
| Graduation rate First-time, full-time students finishing within 150% of normal time | 91% |
| Graduation rate for Pell grant recipients College Scorecard, within 6 years | 61% |
| Graduation rate for first-generation students College Scorecard, within 6 years | 56% |
| Borrowers paying down their loans within 3 years College Scorecard, within 3 years | 79% |
| First-year retention | 97% |
| Median earnings 10 years after entry | $92,538 |
| Admission rate | 5% |
| Application fee IPEDS, 2023–24 | $75 |
| Students receiving Pell grants | 12% |
| Average SAT | 1497 |
|---|---|
| SAT reading & writing | 710–760 |
| SAT math | 730–780 |
| ACT composite | 33–35 |
| Test policy | Considered but not required |
Value: Good (how it’s computed)
Sources: College Scorecard · IPEDS College Navigator · Net price calculator
College Scorecard, most recent cohorts (data release 06/10/2026); IPEDS 2024-25 directory and institutional characteristics; fall 2023 enrollment.
Earnings by major
Median earnings of bachelor’s graduates a few years after finishing, by major (College Scorecard).
| Major | Median earnings |
|---|---|
| Computing and information science | |
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration | |
| Computer engineering | |
| International business | |
| Mathematics | |
| Electrical engineering | |
| Business (general) | |
| Other engineering | |
| Industrial Engineering | |
| Chemical Engineering | |
| Mechanical engineering | |
| Economics | |
| Civil engineering | |
| Nursing | |
| Biochemistry | |
| Chemistry | |
| Design | |
| Finance | |
| Rehabilitation and therapy | |
| Health administration | |
| Communication studies | |
| Biology | |
| Criminal justice | |
| International relations | |
| Journalism | |
| Neuroscience | |
| Architecture | |
| Political science | |
| Natural resources and conservation | |
| Sociology | |
| English | |
| Experimental psychology | |
| Human services | |
| Music |
Also offered (no earnings published yet): American Sign Language, Anthropology, Architectural History, Criticism, and Conservation, Architectural Sciences and Technology, Area studies, Biotechnology, Broadcasting, Business administration, Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences, Clinical and counseling psychology, Computer Engineering Technologies/Technicians, Ecology and evolutionary biology, Electrical engineering technology, Ethnic and gender studies, Film and video, Fine arts, Geology and earth science, Graphic communications, History, Industrial technology, Information science, Information technology, Landscape Architecture, Liberal arts, Linguistics, Management science, Mechanical engineering technology, Other biological and biomedical sciences, Other foreign languages, literatures, and linguistics, Other public administration and social service professions, Other social sciences, Philosophy, Physics, Pre-law and legal studies, Psychology, Public health, Religious studies, Romance languages, Software and media applications, Speech-language pathology, Theatre, Visual and performing arts.
What students study most
Share of bachelor’s degrees by field, first majors in 2023–24 (IPEDS).
| Field | Share of degrees |
|---|---|
| Business | |
| Engineering | |
| Computer and information sciences | |
| Biology | |
| Social sciences |
Campus life
| School colors | |
|---|---|
| Setting | City |
| Part-time undergraduates | 0% |
| Undergraduates aged 25 and older | 1% |
| On-campus room and board (per year) | $19,580 |
| Sports | NCAA Division I · Colonial Athletic Association |
| ROTC | Army · Navy · Air Force |
| Study abroad | Offered |
| Students per faculty member | 16 to 1 |
| Faculty who are full-time | 70%College Scorecard, fall 2023 |
| Endowment per student | $55,546IPEDS, 2023, per student |
| Dorm space | For about 74% of studentsBeds per undergraduate; not who lives on campus |
| Nearest airport with airline service | Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)About 4 miles away · about 15 minutes by car |
| Town population | 666,442Census, 2020–2024 |
| Nearest city of 250,000 people or more | BostonAbout 4 miles away · about 10 minutes by car |
| Typical weather | 28°F in January · 74°F in JulyNOAA, 1991–2020, from Jamaica Plain, MA, about 3 miles away |
Federal data (IPEDS and College Scorecard), except school colors.
Campus safety reports
On-campus crimes reported in 2024, per 1,000 students.
| Category | This campus | U.S. rate |
|---|---|---|
| Rape | 0.03 | 0.07 |
| Robbery | 0.00 | 0.01 |
| Aggravated assault | 0.01 | 0.04 |
| Burglary | 0.03 | 0.08 |
| Motor vehicle theft | 0.01 | 0.15 |
Numbers reflect what each campus reported. They differ with campus size and how reporting is done, so compare with care. U.S. rate: total reported offenses divided by total students at every institution in the report.
Questions families ask
- What is Northeastern University’s Compass Score?
- Exceptional (grade A). It ranks in the top 4% of rated colleges. The grade comes from outcomes (40%: graduation, retention and earnings), entering students (40%: test scores and selectivity), cost (15%: debt and price after aid) and teaching (5%: class size), all from federal data.
- How much does Northeastern University cost after financial aid?
- The average net price is $30,915 a year for students who receive federal aid, after grants and scholarships. What your family pays depends on income; the college’s net price calculator gives your own estimate.
- How hard is it to get into Northeastern University?
- Northeastern University admitted 5% of applicants in the most recent federal data.
- How do Northeastern University’s graduates do?
- 91% of first-time, full-time students graduate within six years; the median earnings of former students ten years after entry are $92,538; the median federal debt at graduation is $24,250.
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About this school’s data
- IPEDS unit ID 167358
- Carnegie classification: Doctoral university (very high research)
- Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education (U.S. Department of Education DAPIP)
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Colleges like this one
The same kind of school first, then the closest in selectivity, size and cost.
Compare side by side: Northeastern vs Boston · Northeastern vs University of Southern California · Northeastern vs New York · Northeastern vs Cornell
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