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Northeastern University Northeastern University Acceptance Rate 2024

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Dark Clock Icon Last updated on 16 Jul '24, by Akansha katariya (Study Abroad Expert)

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Founded in 1898, Northeastern University is a private research university renowned for its experimental learning model, high-impact research, partnership, and worldwide reach. The university emphasizes innovative ways of teaching and research that give a premium experience to students.

According to the unofficial source, the NU ranked #53 among National Universities, #96 in Best Value School, and #37 for providing Best Undergraduate Engineering Program. Also, the university is accredited by the NECHE (New England Commission of Higher Education), a member of the Boston Consortium for Higher Education, and classified among R1 Doctoral Universities- Very high research activity.

The university belongs to one of the best study-abroad universities and compels students to take Northeastern University admission every year for its experiential learning opportunities, including cooperative education, student research, service learning, and global experience.

Northeastern University Acceptance Rate 2024

According to Northeastern University enrollment 2023-2024, over 38,000 total number of students enrolled at the university. Out of the total, over 21,000 students were undergraduates and more than 17,000 were graduates. Thus, the Northeastern University acceptance rate is 7%. International students can check the NU enrollment for fall 2023-2024 below:

Particulars

Statistics 2023-2024

Total Enrollment

38,760

Undergraduate Enrollment

21,330

Graduate Enrollment

17,430

Acceptance Rate

7%

Northeastern University Acceptance Rate for International Students

Northeastern University received over 21,000 undergraduate admissions from various ethnicities. The total number of international students was 3,003 among 21,330 students. In addition, ethnicities and races such as White, non-Hispanic; Nonresident aliens; and Hispanic, Latino were more than the rest of other communities. The total of students from wide ethnicities or races at Northeastern University is given below:


Race/ Ethnicity

Degree-Seeking
First-Time
First Year

Degree-Seeking
Undergraduates (include first-time first-year)

 Total
Undergraduates (both degree- and non-degree-seeking)

Nonresident aliens

327

2,893

3,003

Hispanic/Latino

354

2,358

2,361

Black or African American, non-Hispanic

214

1,093

1,094

White, non-Hispanic

1,003

8,789

8,803

American Indian or Alaska Native, non-Hispanic

1

14

14

Asian, non-Hispanic

620

4,429

4,433

Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, non-Hispanic

3

8

8

Two or more races, non-Hispanic

199

1,393

1,395

Race and/or ethnicity unknown

23

208

219

TOTAL

2,744

21,185

21,330

Northeastern University Acceptance Rate Trends

According to the Northeastern University enrollment data over the years, the university acceptance rate has excessively decreased compared to the previous year's data. The university acceptance rate was between 18% and 20% for the past few years, which has decreased to 5.6%. However, there is an increase in the number of applications, earlier it was between 62K and 75K which has increased to over 96K. International students can check the table below for Northeastern University enrollment and acceptance rate data over the years:


Particulars

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

Applicants

96,327

91,086

75,244

64,459

62,263

62,272

Admits

5,389

6,179

13,829

13,199

11,240

12,042

Admit rate

5.6%

6.7%

18%

20%

18%

19%

Enrolled

2,900

2,620

4,504

3,128

2,996

2,746

Note: The table is taken from an unofficial source, hence subject to vary.

 Northeastern University Requirements for International Students

International students must fulfill the basic NU university requirements for undergraduate and postgraduate programs. The basic entry requirements for UG and PG programs are given below:

Undergraduate Requirements:

  • Academic Transcripts for each year
  • Evidence of English language proficiency
  • ACT/SAT score
  • Submit secondary school report
  • Minimum 2.0 GPA required
  • Submission of standardized test scores
  • English language requirements

Graduate Requirements:

Northeastern University Average GPA, SAT & ACT Scores

Northeastern University does not provide test options for standardized test scores which means there is a compulsion to submit these scores. Students must submit SAT and ACT scores during admissions to enhance their selection probability. The minimum required scores for ACT and SAT at NU are given below:

Particulars

Minimum score required

SAT

Between 1490 and 1540

ACT

Between 33 and 35

GPA

3 on a scale of 4

Tips to get selected at Northeastern University

The Northeastern University acceptance rate is 7%. This shows tough selection criteria during the NU admission. However, international students who adhere to the below tips still have higher chances of selection:

  • Maintain a solid GPA throughout high school.
  • Thoroughly prepare for exams such as the SAT or ACT before submitting the final scores.
  • Obtain excellent letters of recommendation from teachers who know the student well and can attest to the academic talents and personality.
  • The university admission staff values an applicant's high school class rank, where available, as well as a letter of recommendation. Students must obtain high ranks and positive recommendations.
  • Strong recommendations from instructors or counselors might provide a third-party assessment of students’ academic achievements and personal characteristics.
  • Northeastern expects its applicants to have completed a challenging high school program. This includes particular subject requirements to guarantee they're ready for college-level coursework.

Northeastern University Acceptance Rate vs Columbia University Acceptance Rate 

Columbia University acceptance rate stands at 3.9%, which makes it an extremely competitive university to get into, as compared to Northeastern University, whose acceptance rate stands at 7%. Columbia University is a tougher university to get into.

Columbia University admissions are highly competitive and hence, applicants must submit great academic marks as well as thrive in co-curricular activities to increase their chances. Other excellent methods to get into either of the two universities include submitting strong  English language proficiency scores and maintaining solid marks throughout your academic career. Applicants must also have a decent personality and be kind to others, as both universities admit students based on a holistic approach.

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FAQs

Q:   Is it difficult to get into Northeastern University?

A: 

With an acceptance rate of 7%, Northeastern University is extremely tough to get into. The university follows an exceptionally stringent approach during admission based on students' academic performance, English language proficiency, standardized test scores, GPA, curricular activities, relevant experience, and more. The student who follows the eligibility criteria and performs extremely well in all the above factors still has a high probability of selection. Students must aim to score much more than the expected scores to be considered.

Q:   What GPA do you need to get into Northeastern?

A: 

Northeastern University expects a GPA of a minimum of 3 or above on a 4 scale to be eligible to enter any program. GPA is the foremost factor during admission and student must perform excellently throughout their high school. Along with GPA, students must submit the ACT and SAT scores to create a positive impact on their resume. The minimum ACT score required is between 33 and 35 and minimum SAT scores must be between 1490 and 1540.

Q:   Why is Northeastern University so popular?

A: 

Northeastern University is one of the most popular universities in the USA and is renowned for its experimental learning model, high-impact research, partnership, and worldwide reach. The university emphasizes innovative ways of teaching and research that give a premium experience to students.

According to the unofficial source, the university ranked #53 among National Universities, #96 in Best Value School, and #37 for providing Best Undergraduate Engineering Program. Also, the university is accredited by the NECHE (New England Commission of Higher Education), a member of the Boston Consortium for Higher Education, and classified among R1 Doctoral Universities- Very high research activity.

Q:   Does Northeastern have a lot of international students?

A: 

According to Northeastern University enrollment 2023-2024, over 38,000 total number of students enrolled at the university. Out of the total, over 21,000 students were undergraduates and more than 17,000 were graduates. The total number of international students was 3,003 among 21,330 students. Students can refer to the table below for the same:

Particulars

Headcount 2023-2024

Total Enrollment

38,760

Undergraduate Enrollment

21,330

Graduate Enrollment

17,430

International UG students

3,003

Q:   Is Northeastern good for international students?

A: 

Northeastern University is one of the most popular universities in the USA for international students. It is renowned for its experimental learning model, high-impact research, partnership, and worldwide reach. The university emphasizes innovative ways of teaching and research that give a premium experience to students and compels students to take Northeastern University admission every year for its experiential learning opportunities, including cooperative education, student research,  service learning, and global experience.

Q:   Is Northeastern University a good university?

A: 

One of the most well-known colleges in the United States is Northeastern University, which is well-known for its high-impact research, cooperation, experimental learning approach, and global reach. The institution prioritizes cutting-edge approaches to research and instruction that provide students with an exceptional education.
The university was ranked #53 among National Universities, #96 in Best Value School, and #37 in offering the Best Undergraduate Engineering Program, according to the unofficial source. The university is also a member of the Boston Consortium for Higher Education, recognised by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE), and ranked among R1 Doctoral Universities—Very high research activity.

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Akansha katariya

Study Abroad Expert

Akansha katariya is a content creator at shiksha.com, creating content for study abroad. Having pursued B tech. in Electronics and communication from RGPV University, she has been creating content across diverse domains. When not guiding students, sh...Read Full Bio

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