Northeastern University: Acceptance Rate and Your Chances

Updated June 2026 · CollegeCalcAI

Quick answer: Northeastern University has a 7% acceptance rate, which makes it one of the hardest colleges in the country to get into. Admitted students typically score around 1530 on the SAT or 35 on the ACT. Use the free calculator below to estimate your personal odds at Northeastern University.
Acceptance rate7%
SAT (75th percentile)1530
ACT (75th percentile)35
LocationMA
School typePrivate

Northeastern University is a private university in Boston, Massachusetts. It accepts about 7% of applicants, a dramatic shift from where the school stood just a decade ago. Northeastern is well known for its cooperative education program, which lets students alternate between classroom study and full-time work experience.

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How hard is it to get into Northeastern University?

Northeastern's 7% acceptance rate reflects how much the school's profile has changed in recent years. It is now among the most selective private universities in the country, and the applicant pool is both large and strong.

Students who are admitted typically combine academic excellence with a clear sense of what they want to do and how Northeastern's programs connect to those goals. The school's co-op focus means applicants who can articulate practical ambitions tend to present well.

Test scores that make you competitive

At the 75th percentile, admitted Northeastern students score a 1530 on the SAT and a 35 on the ACT. Scores in that range signal solid academic preparation, but they are not the whole story. Northeastern is test-optional, and many students choose not to submit scores. If your transcript is strong and your test scores are not, that option is worth considering.

What Northeastern University looks for

Northeastern values students who connect their academics to something real, whether that is professional aspirations, research interests, or community impact. Given the co-op culture, applicants who can show curiosity about how knowledge translates into practice often stand out.

Strong grades in challenging courses are a baseline expectation. Beyond that, the depth of your interests and how well you communicate your goals in essays can carry significant weight in the process.

Estimate your chances at Northeastern University

CollegeCalcAI offers a free calculator at collegecalcai.com that estimates your personal chances at Northeastern based on your GPA, test scores, and activities. It is a useful tool for figuring out how realistic Northeastern is as a target on your list.

Frequently asked questions

What is Northeastern University's acceptance rate?

Northeastern's acceptance rate is approximately 7%, reflecting its status as one of the more selective private universities in the country.

What SAT or ACT score do I need for Northeastern University?

Admitted students reach a 1530 SAT and a 35 ACT at the 75th percentile. Those are the benchmarks that place you in a competitive range.

Is Northeastern University hard to get into?

Yes, it is. The 7% acceptance rate means most applicants are turned away, including many with strong records. Northeastern has become significantly more selective in recent years.

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Sources: U.S. Department of Education (IPEDS), NCES, and publicly reported Common Data Sets. Acceptance rate and score figures are rounded and reflect recent admissions cycles. How we calculate chances.