[updated for 2024-2025 admission data]
How hard is Northeastern to get into?
This page provides the latest information on Northeastern University (Northeastern)'s admission process, acceptance rate, and student profile. Northeastern's acceptance rate is 5.22% for 2024-2025 admission. A total of 98,425 students applied and 5,133 were admitted to the school. Its acceptance rate is very low, which means it is very hard to get into Northeastern.
To apply to Northeastern, recommendations and personal statement (or essay) are required to submit. The SAT and ACT score is not required, but considered for admission. In addition, english proficiency test score is also considered (required).
Admission Statistics
For the academic year 2024-25, Northeastern's acceptance rate is 5.22% and the yield (also known as enrollment rate) is 53.75%. 42,678 men and 55,719 women applied to Northeastern and 2,058 men and 3,074 women students were accepted.
Among them, 1,090 men and 1,668 women were enrolled in Northeastern. You can explore the Northeastern's admission rates and SAT score trends over the past decade, including year-by-year data and analysis, by visiting Admission Trends page.
Median SAT and ACT Score
For the academic year 2025, 653 students (24% of enrolled students) submitted SAT scores and 203 students (7% of enrolled students) submitted ACT scores as part of the admission process at Northeastern.
The median SAT score for admitted students is 1,490, including 730 in SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) and 760 in SAT Math. The 75th percentile SAT EBRW score is 760 and the 25th percentile is 710. For SAT Math, the 75th percentile score is 780 and the 25th percentile is 730.
The median ACT composite score is 34, with a 75th percentile score of 35 and a 25th percentile score of 33 at Northeastern. The median ACT Math score is 33 and the median ACT English score is 35.
How competitive is Northeastern's score?
The SAT and ACT scores at Northeastern University are similar to the average score compared to similar colleges (SAT: 1,497, ACT: 34 - private (not-for-profit) research university with very high research activity).
Application Requirements
It requires to submit High School GPA, High School Record (or Transcript), Recommendations, English Proficiency Test, and Personal statement or essay to its applicants.
The SAT and ACT test score is not required, but considered in admission process at Northeastern. The english proficiency test is required .
The next table summarizes the application requirements to apply Northeastern University.
For more admission information such as minimum GPA and deadlines, see its online application page .
General Admissions Information
The following provides general admission information for applying to Northeastern:
- Open Admission Policy: No
- Undergraduate Application Fees: -
- Graduate Application Fees: -
- Admission Information: https://www.northeastern.edu/admissions/
- Online Application: https://www.commonapp.org/
- Calendar System: Semester
- Course for High School Students: Not Offered
- Credits Accepted: Credits for Life Experiences, Advanced placement (AP) Credits
- Degree Offered: Bachelor, Master, Post-Master Certificate, Doctoral (Research), Doctoral (Professional Practice), Doctoral (Other)
Northeastern Admission Frequently Asked Questions
Northeastern is extremely competitive to get into, with an acceptance rate of 5.22%.
Northeastern recommends submitting SAT or ACT scores, but they are not strictly required for admission. The average SAT score required for admission to Northeastern is 1,490, and the average ACT score is 34. Meeting or exceeding these scores will improve your chances of admission.
Yes, Northeastern requires applicants to submit a personal essay or statement as part of the application.
Yes, Northeastern requires applicants to submit a recommendation letter as part of the application.
Northeastern does not require an application fee for undergraduate or graduate admission.
Yes, Northeastern requires applicants to submit high school GPA, high school record or transcript as part of the admission process.
Yes, Northeastern requires international applicants to submit an English proficiency test (like TOEFL or IELTS) as part of the application.
The institutional SAT code for Northeastern is 3667 and 4-digit ACT code is 1880.