Northeastern University Acceptance Rate 2025

For aspiring students of Northeastern University, it is very important to be aware of the Northeastern University Acceptance Rate, which is explained thoroughly in the article.

For academically qualified candidates, there is no harm in completing a Caltech application. However, it is necessary to recognize that even the most exceptional and talented applicants must have a strong backup plan when applying to highly selective colleges like Caltech in 2024-25.

Every college-bound student should carefully curate a well-balanced college list that includes both “target” and “safety” schools. It is advisable to seek guidance from an admissions professional, including your high school counselor, to ensure you have a well-rounded list that aligns with your academic and personal goals.

Northeastern Acceptance Rate – Class of 2027

For the 2024-25 freshman class, Northeastern University received a staggering 96,327 applications.

While the official acceptance rate for the Class of 2027 has not been disclosed, it is known that the university intends to enroll approximately 2,600 students on its main campus and 200-300 students on its campuses in London and Oakland, CA.

Based on this information, the estimated acceptance rate for Northeastern University’s Boston campus for the Class of 2027 is approximately 5-6%, marking an all-time low.

For comparison, the acceptance rate in previous years has been drastically higher:

• Northeastern acceptance rate Class of 2026: 6.8%
• Class of 2025: 18%
• Class of 2024: 20%

Northeastern ED Acceptance Rate

In building the Class of 2027, Northeastern accepted 39% of ED applicants. This is higher than the 33% acceptance rate for the Class of 2026, but lower than the 51% clip for the Class of 2025.

NU offers both ED I and ED II, with November 1 and January 1 deadlines.

Northeastern Admissions – SAT, ACT, and Class Rank

For the Class of 2026, Caltech reported its highest median SAT score to date, which was 1500. A significant percentage of students scored 700 or higher on the Evidence-Based Reading and Writing (EBRW) section (81%) and on the Math section (94%). The mid-50% range for ACT scores was 33 to 35. An impressive 77% of the Class of 2026 ranked in the top 10% of their high school class, with 95% placing in the top quartile.

Admissions Trends & Notes – (Class of 2027)

• The school received 91,100 applications for the Class of 2026 compared to 96,327 in this most recent cycle.
• The number of applicants has increased by 49.5% over the last four years.
• ED applications increased by 30% in the 2022-23 admissions cycle.
• Since 2015, Early Decision applications have risen from 772 to 5,872.
• 71% if the applicant pool identified as non-White.

Who Gets Into Northeastern?

Let’s look at the demographics of Northeastern undergraduates:

Geographically, 48 U.S. states are presently represented across the NU undergraduate population. As with all selective colleges, those from lower-populated, more remote areas of the country (e.g. Wyoming, South Dakota, and Alaska) enjoy a boost to their admissions prospects.

The states with the strongest undergraduate representation are:

1. Massachusetts
2. New York
3. New Jersey
4. California
5. Connecticut
6. Pennsylvania
7. Florida

Looking at ethnic identity, the breakdown of students was as follows:

• Asian: 18%
• Hispanic: 11%
• African American: 6%
• White: 43%
• International: 15%
• Two or more races: 6%

The breakdown by gender is as follows:

• Male: 46%
• Female: 54%

Let’s now take a college-by-college look at where/what current undergraduates are studying (most recent data available):

• College of Arts, Media, and Design: 1,514
• Bouvé College of Health Sciences: 2,134
• D’Amore-McKim School of Business: 4,449
• College of Engineering: 3,958
• Khoury College of Computer Sciences: 2,938
• College of Science: 3,374
• College of Social Sciences and Humanities: 1,860
• University Programs: 611

NU’s Yield Rate

Last year, Northeastern University’s yield rate, representing the percentage of accepted students who choose to enroll out of the total admitted, was 33%, which marked a significant increase compared to previous years. In comparison, prestigious schools like Stanford and Harvard typically boast over 80% yield rates, while the University of Chicago, MIT, and Yale all have yield rates of 70% or higher.

Despite the improvement, Northeastern still lags behind other elite private institutions such as Vanderbilt, Rice, and Carnegie Mellon in terms of yield rate. This indicates that Northeastern places a strong emphasis on knowing whether applicants consider the university as their first choice, and signaling such a preference can provide a substantial admissions advantage. Demonstrating genuine interest and commitment to Northeastern can positively impact your chances of acceptance.

How Northeastern Rates Applicants

Northeastern University places significant importance on five factors during its admissions process, considering them “very important”: the rigor of the secondary school record, GPA, standardized test scores, the application essay, and recommendations.

Other factors rated as “important” include extracurricular activities, talent/ability, character/personal qualities, and volunteer/paid work. Additionally, there are “considered” factors like first-generation status, race/ethnicity, class rank, demonstrated interest, and geographical residence.

The admissions officers at Northeastern University strive to build a diverse and talented freshman class through a holistic evaluation of applications. They seek students who have demonstrated academic success and active involvement in their school and community, recognizing the value of diverse experiences, perspectives, and interests in creating a vibrant campus community.

Tips for Applying to Northeastern  

If you plan on joining the 96,000+ Husky hopefuls for the next admissions cycle, you should know the following:

• There are no interviews offered through the university. As such, you’ll need to use the essay and recommendations to forge a personal connection with an admissions officer.
• Northeastern does consider “demonstrated interest” so it is important that you make contact with the admissions office, connect through social media, and visit campus or meet Northeastern reps at a college fair near you.

Does Northeastern Have Supplemental Essays?

• In the 2022-23 cycle, Northeastern no longer utilized any supplemental essay prompts. Therefore, the primary Common App essay takes on an even greater level of importance when applying to the university.

When applying to Northeastern University, applicants should focus their efforts on crafting a compelling Common App essay, as it is the only essay required. For more guidance on prompt selection and brainstorming, referring to previous posts can be helpful.

As Northeastern becomes more competitive each year, strong SAT scores, outstanding grades, and ranking among the top 10% of one’s high school class are likely necessary for successful admission.

Opting for Early Decision (ED) can provide a significant advantage, especially if an applicant is on the borderline of admission. It is crucial for all college-bound students to create a well-considered college list, comprising a mix of “target” and “safety” schools. Seeking guidance from admissions professionals, including high school counselors, can be invaluable in this process.