Northeastern vs. Rutgers

Deciding between Northeastern University and Rutgers University New Brunswick? 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
Rutgers University New Brunswick

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Northeastern Boston, MA
  • Rutgers New Brunswick, NJ
  • Setting
  • Northeastern Large City
  • Rutgers Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Northeastern 32,553
  • Rutgers 52,269
  • Type
  • Northeastern Private 4 Year
  • Rutgers Public 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Northeastern #128
  • Rutgers #114
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Northeastern -
  • Rutgers -
  • Status
  • Northeastern Non-profit
  • Rutgers Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Northeastern
  • Rutgers

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • Rutgers $17,929
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • Rutgers $37,441
  • Room & Board
  • Northeastern $19,580
  • Rutgers $15,714
  • Average Net Price
  • Northeastern $34,207
  • Rutgers $20,522
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Northeastern $50,421
  • Rutgers $16,742
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Northeastern 66%
  • Rutgers 50%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Northeastern 98,425
  • Rutgers 68,614
  • Admitted
  • Northeastern 5,133
  • Rutgers 39,899
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Northeastern 5.2%
  • Rutgers 58.1%
  • Enrolled
  • Northeastern 53.8%
  • Rutgers 20.5%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Northeastern 1490
  • Rutgers 1410
  • Typical ACT score
  • Northeastern 34
  • Rutgers 30
  • Average High School GPA
  • Northeastern 3.91
  • Rutgers 3.3
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Northeastern A
  • Rutgers B+
  • Admissions Standards
  • Northeastern Elite
  • Rutgers Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Northeastern Extreme
  • Rutgers Low
  • ACT Range
  • Northeastern 33/35
  • Rutgers 28/33
  • SAT Range
  • Northeastern 1440/1540
  • Rutgers 1310/1500
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Northeastern Test optional
  • Rutgers Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Northeastern Jan 1, 2027
  • Rutgers

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Northeastern 16:1
  • Rutgers 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Northeastern
    • Business (25%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Rutgers
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Communication (10%)
    • Psychology (10%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • Engineering (8%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Northeastern 77%
  • Rutgers 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Northeastern $69,500
  • Rutgers $66,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Northeastern 79%
  • Rutgers 68%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Northeastern $27,875
  • Rutgers $22,215
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Northeastern $288
  • Rutgers $229

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Northeastern 48%
  • Rutgers 46%
  • % Women
  • Northeastern 52%
  • Rutgers 54%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Northeastern High
  • Rutgers Very High
  • HBCU
  • Northeastern No
  • Rutgers No
  • % White
  • Northeastern 48%
  • Rutgers 42%
  • % Asian
  • Northeastern 12%
  • Rutgers 26%
  • % Black
  • Northeastern 4%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Hispanic
  • Northeastern 7%
  • Rutgers 13%
  • % Native American
  • Northeastern 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Northeastern 0%
  • Rutgers 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Northeastern 4%
  • Rutgers 3%
  • % International
  • Northeastern 20%
  • Rutgers 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Northeastern 6%
  • Rutgers 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Northeastern 27%
  • Rutgers 75%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Northeastern 62%
  • Rutgers 13%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

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

Rutgers University New Brunswick is larger than Northeastern based on total student enrollment (52,269 students vs. 32,553 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Northeastern vs. Rutgers Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northeastern or Rutgers? 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 Rutgers University New Brunswick than Northeastern ($20,522 vs. $34,207).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Rutgers University New Brunswick are 19.7% lower than at Northeastern University ($15,714 vs. $19,580).
  • Northeastern University is 269% more expensive for in-state tuition than Rutgers (about $48,233 more per year; $66,162.00 vs. $17,929.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 76.7% higher at Northeastern than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (about $28,721 more per year; $66,162.00 vs. $37,441.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northeastern University than at Rutgers University New Brunswick (66% vs. 50%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northeastern University students is 201.2% larger than aid received by Rutgers University New Brunswick students ($50,421 vs. $16,742).

Northeastern vs. Rutgers Admissions comparison

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

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Northeastern University (1490) is 80 points higher than at Rutgers (1410).
  • Incoming Northeastern students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at Rutgers).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northeastern University 1440/1540; Rutgers University New Brunswick 1310/1500.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northeastern University 33/35; Rutgers University New Brunswick 28/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Northeastern - Test optional; Rutgers - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Northeastern Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Northeastern students have a 0.61 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Rutgers (3.3).
  • Rutgers has a higher acceptance rate (58.1%) than Northeastern (5.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.8% at Northeastern vs. 20.5% at Rutgers.

Northeastern vs. Rutgers Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Northeastern and Rutgers? 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).

  • The graduation rate at Northeastern is the same as at Rutgers University New Brunswick (77% vs. 77%).
  • Graduates from Northeastern University earn a median of about $3,300 more per year than Rutgers graduates about ten years after starting college ($69,500 vs. $66,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Rutgers University New Brunswick graduates have a $5,660 lower median loan debt than Northeastern graduates ($22,215 vs. $27,875).
  • Among borrowers, Rutgers graduates have an estimated $59 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northeastern graduates ($229 vs. $288).
  • More Northeastern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Rutgers students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 68%)

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.