Northeastern vs. Dickinson College

Deciding between Northeastern University and Dickinson College? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,500 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Northeastern University
Dickinson College

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Northeastern Boston, MA
  • Dickinson College Carlisle, PA
  • Setting
  • Northeastern Large City
  • Dickinson College Distant Town
  • Enrollment
  • Northeastern 32,553
  • Dickinson College 2,314
  • Type
  • Northeastern Private 4 Year
  • Dickinson College Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Northeastern #128
  • Dickinson College #76
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Northeastern -
  • Dickinson College -
  • Status
  • Northeastern Non-profit
  • Dickinson College Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Northeastern
  • Dickinson College

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • Dickinson College $65,650
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • Dickinson College $65,650
  • Room & Board
  • Northeastern $19,580
  • Dickinson College $17,100
  • Average Net Price
  • Northeastern $34,207
  • Dickinson College $38,483
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Northeastern $50,421
  • Dickinson College $44,479
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Northeastern 66%
  • Dickinson College 96%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Northeastern 98,425
  • Dickinson College 7,258
  • Admitted
  • Northeastern 5,133
  • Dickinson College 3,055
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Northeastern 5.2%
  • Dickinson College 42.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Northeastern 53.8%
  • Dickinson College 21.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Northeastern 1490
  • Dickinson College 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • Northeastern 34
  • Dickinson College 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Northeastern 3.91
  • Dickinson College -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Northeastern A-
  • Dickinson College -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Northeastern Elite
  • Dickinson College Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Northeastern Extreme
  • Dickinson College Low
  • ACT Range
  • Northeastern 33/35
  • Dickinson College 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Northeastern 1440/1540
  • Dickinson College 1310/1460
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Northeastern Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Dickinson College Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
  • Application Deadline
  • Northeastern Jan 1, 2027
  • Dickinson College Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Northeastern 16:1
  • Dickinson College 11:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Northeastern
    • Business (25%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Dickinson College
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Ethnic Studies (11%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Northeastern 77%
  • Dickinson College 84%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Northeastern $69,500
  • Dickinson College $62,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Northeastern 79%
  • Dickinson College 89%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Northeastern $27,875
  • Dickinson College $21,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Northeastern $288
  • Dickinson College $217

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Northeastern 25%
  • Dickinson College 0%
  • % Women
  • Northeastern 22%
  • Dickinson College 0%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Northeastern Very High
  • Dickinson College Low
  • HBCU
  • Northeastern No
  • Dickinson College No
  • % White
  • Northeastern 48%
  • Dickinson College 72%
  • % Asian
  • Northeastern 12%
  • Dickinson College 3%
  • % Black
  • Northeastern 4%
  • Dickinson College 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Northeastern 7%
  • Dickinson College 6%
  • % Native American
  • Northeastern 0%
  • Dickinson College 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Northeastern 0%
  • Dickinson College 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Northeastern 4%
  • Dickinson College 4%
  • % International
  • Northeastern 20%
  • Dickinson College 10%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Northeastern 6%
  • Dickinson College 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Northeastern 27%
  • Dickinson College 26%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Northeastern 62%
  • Dickinson College 67%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Northeastern University in Boston, MA with Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northeastern University is larger than Dickinson College based on total student enrollment (32,553 students vs. 2,314 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Northeastern University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Dickinson College is in Carlisle, PA (Distant Town setting).
  • Northeastern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Dickinson College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Northeastern University 16:1; Dickinson College 11:1.

Northeastern vs. Dickinson College Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northeastern or Dickinson College? 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 Northeastern University than Dickinson College ($34,207 vs. $38,483).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Dickinson College are 12.7% lower than at Northeastern University ($17,100 vs. $19,580).
  • Northeastern University is 0.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than Dickinson College (about $512 more per year; $66,162.00 vs. $65,650.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 0.8% higher at Northeastern than at Dickinson College (about $512 more per year; $66,162.00 vs. $65,650.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Dickinson College than at Northeastern University (96% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northeastern University students is 13.4% larger than aid received by Dickinson College students ($50,421 vs. $44,479).

Northeastern vs. Dickinson College Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Northeastern or Dickinson College? 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 Dickinson College and Northeastern.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Northeastern University (1490) is 100 points higher than at Dickinson College (1390).
  • Incoming Northeastern students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at Dickinson College).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northeastern University 1440/1540; Dickinson College 1310/1460.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northeastern University 33/35; Dickinson College 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Northeastern - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional); Dickinson College - Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional).
  • Typical fall application deadline: Northeastern Jan 1, 2027; Dickinson College Jan 15, 2027.
  • Dickinson College has a higher acceptance rate (42.1%) than Northeastern (5.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.8% at Northeastern vs. 21.1% at Dickinson College.

Northeastern vs. Dickinson College Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Northeastern and Dickinson College? 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).

  • Dickinson College's six-year graduation rate (84%) is higher than Northeastern University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Northeastern University earn a median of about $7,500 more per year than Dickinson College graduates about ten years after starting college ($69,500 vs. $62,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Dickinson College graduates have a $6,875 lower median loan debt than Northeastern graduates ($21,000 vs. $27,875).
  • Among borrowers, Dickinson College graduates have an estimated $71 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northeastern graduates ($217 vs. $288).
  • More Dickinson College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northeastern students, three years after graduation. (89% vs. 79%)

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.