Northeastern University
Boston, Massachusetts · Private Nonprofit · 5.2% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 91/100 · Exceptional Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
Northeastern scores 91 (Exceptional Value) on the CampusROI scale - a strong result for a private university with $66,162 sticker tuition. The school's defining structural advantage is its co-op program, which is visible in the earnings data: Computer and Information Sciences graduates earn $115,587 at year one - numbers that reflect multiple paid work terms, not just credential value. The 90.5% completion rate is high for a private of this size and cost. Net price of $30,915 masks wide variation: families earning under $48,000 pay under $2,500 per year. At 17,326 undergraduates, Northeastern is a mid-large institution with substantial program variety. The 4.6-year payback period is solid for a private at this price point. Program mix skews heavily technical: Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Chemical Engineering all show year-one earnings above $80,000. The outlier is Music, with an F-grade ROI and debt-to-earnings of 1.209 - a poor return at $66,000 tuition. Northeastern's cooperative education structure is the primary value driver; students who do not leverage co-op face substantially weaker ROI.
The median graduate earns $92,538 ten years after entry - well above the roughly $53,600 median across the schools we score.
Northeastern University
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $66,162/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $66,162/yr |
| Average net price | $30,915/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $123,660 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $92,538 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $57,800 |
| Median debt at graduation | $24,250 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $257 |
| Estimated payback period | 4.6 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 90.5% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 17,326 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $66,162/year, which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $30,915/year, or roughly $123,660 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $2,264/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $47,696/year. If money is tight, that matters: this school gives low-income students enough aid to land well below the sticker price.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $24,250, which works out to about $257 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($57,800) and comes to 0.42, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $2,264 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $2,436 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $5,301 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $16,241 |
| $110,001+ | $47,696 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
Northeastern's low-income aid model produces low net prices: the 0-30000 bracket pays $2,264 per year, and the 30001-48000 bracket pays $2,436. Over four years, a low-income family pays under $10,000 total. The admission selectivity (5.22%) is the binding constraint, not cost.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
Middle-income families face a significant step up: the 48001-75000 bracket pays $5,301 per year - still very low - but the 75001-110000 bracket jumps to $16,241. The four-year cost at that level is about $65,000, which is workable against co-op earnings (students typically earn $15,000-$25,000 per co-op cycle) and post-graduate salaries. The step between brackets is steep, but the 75001-110000 net price still represents substantial aid against $66,162 sticker.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000+ pay $47,696 per year - nearly full sticker over four years at roughly $190,000 total. Against a 4.6-year payback period and $57,800 average 6-year earnings at the institutional level, the full-pay case is tight for average-outcome graduates. For CS or engineering graduates earning $100,000+ at year one, the math is strong. For lower-earning fields like music or communications, full-pay families are taking meaningful financial risk.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at Northeastern University with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Business Administration and Management | $113,620 | B+ |
| Computer and Information Sciences | $163,708 | A |
| Mechanical Engineering | $103,384 | B+ |
| Economics | $101,423 | B+ |
| Engineering, Other | $112,019 | B+ |
| Biology | $78,327 | C |
| Computer Engineering | $135,416 | B+ |
| Communication and Media Studies | $80,191 | C+ |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services | $80,233 | C |
| Chemical Engineering | $107,767 | B+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer and Information Sciences
Computer and Information Sciences is Northeastern's standout program with 558 graduates, $115,587 year-one earnings, and $163,708 at year four. The debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.199 (ROI grade A) is strong given median debt of $23,001. The year-one figure reflects co-op placement into technology roles at major employers. The four-year trajectory reaches $163k. This is a program where Northeastern's co-op structure materially accelerates career launch.
Computer Engineering
Computer Engineering (132 graduates) earns $99,499 at year one and $135,416 at year four, with a B+ ROI grade (debt-to-earnings 0.251). Year-one earnings already exceed $99,000, consistent with co-op employment in hardware and embedded systems. Median debt of $25,005 is in line with institutional average. The four-year trajectory to $135k is solid, reflecting both career progression and the strong labor market for embedded and hardware engineers in Boston and nationally.
Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering (231 graduates) earns $80,255 at year one and $103,384 at year four, with a B+ ROI grade (debt-to-earnings 0.323). Co-op placements drive the strong year-one figure. The trajectory to $103k at four years reflects placement into aerospace, robotics, and manufacturing. This is a well-volume program with consistent outcomes.
Business Administration and Management
Business Administration is Northeastern's largest program at 958 graduates, with $74,868 year-one earnings and $113,620 at year four (B+ ROI, debt-to-earnings 0.321). Year-one earnings of nearly $75k reflect co-op placements at financial services and consulting firms. The four-year jump to $113k indicates strong career acceleration. Median debt of $24,000 is reasonable relative to earnings.
Music
Music is Northeastern's weakest program by ROI metrics: 32 graduates, $21,978 year-one earnings, $60,974 at year four, and a debt-to-earnings ratio of 1.209 (F grade). Year-one earnings are low enough that debt service is immediately burdensome on a median $26,568 loan. The four-year trajectory to $60k is better, but students entering this program at a $66,000 tuition institution should carefully weigh cost against likely near-term earnings. This is an outlier relative to the rest of Northeastern's portfolio.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 83.3% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 86.7% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 83.0% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 85.5% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How Northeastern University’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 5.2% |
| SAT Math (25th-75th) | 730-780 |
| SAT Reading (25th-75th) | 710-760 |
| ACT Composite (25th-75th) | 33-35 |
| Enrollment | 17,326 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 12.3% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $16,218 |
At 5.22%, Northeastern is highly selective with SAT Math 730-780 and Reading 710-760 (ACT 33-35). The school has risen sharply in selectivity over the past decade as co-op employment outcomes have become more visible to applicants. Admissions weights technical academic strength and evidence of career orientation. Students who can articulate how they will use co-op opportunities read well in the process.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern University (this school) | 91 | $30,915 | $92,538 |
| University of Pennsylvania | 97 | $28,699 | $111,371 |
| Cornell University | 96 | $28,690 | $104,043 |
| University of Southern California | 91 | $32,740 | $92,498 |
| Amherst College | 90 | $23,367 | $77,644 |
| American International College | 38 | $23,274 | $53,124 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See Northeastern University side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
Northeastern admits 5.22% of applicants. SAT mid-ranges are 730-780 Math and 710-760 Reading; ACT composite 33-35. Northeastern attracts students oriented toward technical fields, professional internships, and career-first outcomes. The co-op program is central to the student experience: students who are ambivalent about structured work placements are not a natural fit.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
If you're asking whether Northeastern University is worth it, the short answer is yes - it's one of the strongest money decisions in higher education. Four years here run about $123,660 after aid, and the typical graduate earns $92,538 ten years out. That earnings head start covers the cost in roughly 4.6 years, well ahead of most schools.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 90.5% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $24,250 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $57,800 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
Northeastern University: Common Questions
Is Northeastern University worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students Northeastern University pays off. It scores 91/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $30,915 a year after aid ($123,660 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $92,538 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 4.6 years to earn back.
How much does Northeastern University cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $30,915 a year, or roughly $123,660 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do Northeastern University graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $92,538 ten years after enrolling, roughly $50,738 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off Northeastern University?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 4.6 years for Northeastern University. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do Northeastern University graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $24,250, against average earnings of $57,800 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.42. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at Northeastern University?
The six-year graduation rate is 90.5%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.