Northeastern vs. NYU

Deciding between Northeastern University and New York 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.

Northeastern University
New York University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Northeastern Boston, MA
  • NYU New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Northeastern Large City
  • NYU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Northeastern 32,553
  • NYU 56,832
  • Type
  • Northeastern Private 4 Year
  • NYU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Northeastern #128
  • NYU #43
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Northeastern -
  • NYU -
  • Status
  • Northeastern Non-profit
  • NYU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Northeastern
  • NYU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • NYU $62,796
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • NYU $62,796
  • Room & Board
  • Northeastern $19,580
  • NYU $23,530
  • Average Net Price
  • Northeastern $34,207
  • NYU $30,325
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Northeastern $50,421
  • NYU $53,901
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Northeastern 66%
  • NYU 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Northeastern 98,425
  • NYU 110,807
  • Admitted
  • Northeastern 5,133
  • NYU 10,232
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Northeastern 5.2%
  • NYU 9.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Northeastern 53.8%
  • NYU 55.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Northeastern 1490
  • NYU 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • Northeastern 34
  • NYU 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Northeastern 3.91
  • NYU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Northeastern A
  • NYU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Northeastern Elite
  • NYU Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Northeastern Extreme
  • NYU Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Northeastern 33/35
  • NYU 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Northeastern 1440/1540
  • NYU 1480/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Northeastern Test optional
  • NYU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Northeastern Jan 1, 2027
  • NYU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Northeastern 16:1
  • NYU 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Northeastern
    • Business (25%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • NYU
    • Business (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (18%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Communication (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Northeastern 77%
  • NYU 86%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Northeastern $69,500
  • NYU $76,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Northeastern 79%
  • NYU 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Northeastern $27,875
  • NYU $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Northeastern $288
  • NYU $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Northeastern 48%
  • NYU 42%
  • % Women
  • Northeastern 52%
  • NYU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Northeastern High
  • NYU Very High
  • HBCU
  • Northeastern No
  • NYU No
  • % White
  • Northeastern 48%
  • NYU 34%
  • % Asian
  • Northeastern 12%
  • NYU 20%
  • % Black
  • Northeastern 4%
  • NYU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Northeastern 7%
  • NYU 12%
  • % Native American
  • Northeastern 0%
  • NYU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Northeastern 0%
  • NYU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Northeastern 4%
  • NYU 4%
  • % International
  • Northeastern 20%
  • NYU 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Northeastern 6%
  • NYU 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Northeastern 27%
  • NYU 26%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Northeastern 62%
  • NYU 49%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

New York University is larger than Northeastern based on total student enrollment (56,832 students vs. 32,553 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Northeastern University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); New York University is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Northeastern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. New York University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Northeastern University 16:1; New York University 8:1.

Northeastern vs. NYU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northeastern or NYU? 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 New York University than Northeastern ($30,325 vs. $34,207).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northeastern University are 16.8% lower than at New York University ($19,580 vs. $23,530).
  • Northeastern University is 5.4% more expensive for in-state tuition than NYU (about $3,366 more per year; $66,162.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 5.4% higher at Northeastern than at New York University (about $3,366 more per year; $66,162.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northeastern University than at New York University (66% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by New York University students is 6.9% larger than aid received by Northeastern University students ($53,901 vs. $50,421).

Northeastern vs. NYU Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at New York University (1520) is 30 points higher than at Northeastern (1490).
  • Incoming Northeastern students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at NYU (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northeastern University 1440/1540; New York University 1480/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northeastern University 33/35; New York University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Northeastern - Test optional; NYU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Northeastern Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Northeastern students have a 0.12 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at NYU (3.79).
  • NYU has a higher acceptance rate (9.2%) than Northeastern (5.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.8% at Northeastern vs. 55.4% at NYU.

Northeastern vs. NYU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Northeastern and NYU? 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).

  • New York University's six-year graduation rate (86%) is higher than Northeastern University's (77%).
  • Graduates from New York University earn a median of about $6,500 more per year than Northeastern graduates about ten years after starting college ($76,000 vs. $69,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, New York University graduates have a $4,625 lower median loan debt than Northeastern graduates ($23,250 vs. $27,875).
  • Among borrowers, NYU graduates have an estimated $48 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northeastern graduates ($240 vs. $288).
  • More Northeastern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NYU students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 77%)

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.