Harvard vs. Northeastern

Deciding between Harvard University and Northeastern University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Harvard University
Northeastern University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Harvard Cambridge, MA
  • Northeastern Boston, MA
  • Setting
  • Harvard Midsize City
  • Northeastern Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Harvard 30,259
  • Northeastern 32,553
  • Type
  • Harvard Private 4 Year
  • Northeastern Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Harvard #4
  • Northeastern #128
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Harvard -
  • Northeastern -
  • Status
  • Harvard Non-profit
  • Northeastern Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Harvard
  • Northeastern

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Harvard $61,676
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • Room & Board
  • Harvard $21,190
  • Northeastern $19,580
  • Average Net Price
  • Harvard $17,525
  • Northeastern $34,207
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Harvard $68,015
  • Northeastern $50,421
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Harvard 56%
  • Northeastern 66%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Harvard 54,008
  • Northeastern 98,425
  • Admitted
  • Harvard 1,970
  • Northeastern 5,133
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Harvard 3.6%
  • Northeastern 5.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Harvard 83.6%
  • Northeastern 53.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Harvard 1550
  • Northeastern 1490
  • Typical ACT score
  • Harvard 35
  • Northeastern 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Harvard 4.0
  • Northeastern 3.91
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Harvard A/A+
  • Northeastern A
  • Admissions Standards
  • Harvard Elite
  • Northeastern Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Harvard Extreme
  • Northeastern Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Harvard 34/36
  • Northeastern 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • Harvard 1510/1580
  • Northeastern 1440/1540
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Harvard Required
  • Northeastern Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Harvard Jan 1, 2027
  • Northeastern Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Harvard 7:1
  • Northeastern 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Harvard
    • Social Sciences (32%)
    • Biology (12%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (9%)
    • History (9%)
    • Mathematics (6%)
  • Northeastern
    • Business (25%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Harvard 97%
  • Northeastern 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Harvard $136,700
  • Northeastern $69,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Harvard 70%
  • Northeastern 79%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Harvard $6,500
  • Northeastern $27,875
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Harvard $67
  • Northeastern $288

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Harvard 46%
  • Northeastern 48%
  • % Women
  • Harvard 54%
  • Northeastern 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Harvard Very High
  • Northeastern High
  • HBCU
  • Harvard No
  • Northeastern No
  • % White
  • Harvard 44%
  • Northeastern 48%
  • % Asian
  • Harvard 19%
  • Northeastern 12%
  • % Black
  • Harvard 6%
  • Northeastern 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Harvard 10%
  • Northeastern 7%
  • % Native American
  • Harvard 0%
  • Northeastern 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Harvard 0%
  • Northeastern 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Harvard 6%
  • Northeastern 4%
  • % International
  • Harvard 11%
  • Northeastern 20%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Harvard 3%
  • Northeastern 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Harvard 14%
  • Northeastern 27%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Harvard 68%
  • Northeastern 62%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Harvard Yes
  • Northeastern Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Harvard Yes
  • Northeastern No
  • Meal Plan
  • Harvard Yes
  • Northeastern Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Harvard No
  • Northeastern Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • Harvard Yes
  • Northeastern Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare Harvard University in Cambridge, MA with Northeastern University in Boston, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northeastern University is larger than Harvard based on total student enrollment (32,553 students vs. 30,259 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Harvard University is located in Cambridge, MA (Midsize City setting); Northeastern University is in Boston, MA (Large City setting).
  • Harvard University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Northeastern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Harvard University 7:1; Northeastern University 16:1.

Harvard vs. Northeastern Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Harvard or Northeastern? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Harvard University than Northeastern ($17,525 vs. $34,207).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northeastern University are 7.6% lower than at Harvard University ($19,580 vs. $21,190).
  • Northeastern University is 7.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Harvard (about $4,486 more per year; $66,162.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7.3% higher at Northeastern than at Harvard University (about $4,486 more per year; $66,162.00 vs. $61,676.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northeastern University than at Harvard University (66% vs. 56%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Harvard University students is 34.9% larger than aid received by Northeastern University students ($68,015 vs. $50,421).

Harvard vs. Northeastern Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Harvard or Northeastern? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Northeastern and Harvard.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Harvard University (1550) is 60 points higher than at Northeastern (1490).
  • Incoming Harvard students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (35 vs. 34 at Northeastern).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 1510/1580; Northeastern University 1440/1540.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Harvard University 34/36; Northeastern University 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Harvard - Required; Northeastern - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Harvard Jan 1, 2027; Northeastern Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Harvard students have a 0.09 point higher average high school GPA (4.0) than students at Northeastern (3.91).
  • Northeastern has a higher acceptance rate (5.2%) than Harvard (3.6%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 83.6% at Harvard vs. 53.8% at Northeastern.

Harvard vs. Northeastern Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Harvard and Northeastern? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Harvard University's six-year graduation rate (97%) is higher than Northeastern University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Harvard University earn a median of about $67,200 more per year than Northeastern graduates about ten years after starting college ($136,700 vs. $69,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Harvard University graduates have a $21,375 lower median loan debt than Northeastern graduates ($6,500 vs. $27,875).
  • Among borrowers, Harvard graduates have an estimated $221 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northeastern graduates ($67 vs. $288).
  • More Northeastern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Harvard students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 70%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.