UD vs. Northeastern

Deciding between University of Delaware 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.

University of Delaware
Northeastern University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • UD Newark, DE
  • Northeastern Boston, MA
  • Setting
  • UD Large Suburban
  • Northeastern Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • UD 24,412
  • Northeastern 32,553
  • Type
  • UD Public 4 Year
  • Northeastern Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • UD #150
  • Northeastern #128
  • Religious Affiliation
  • UD -
  • Northeastern -
  • Status
  • UD Non-profit
  • Northeastern Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • UD
  • Northeastern

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • UD $16,810
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • UD $41,400
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • Room & Board
  • UD $15,386
  • Northeastern $19,580
  • Average Net Price
  • UD $19,139
  • Northeastern $34,207
  • Average Grant Aid
  • UD $13,302
  • Northeastern $50,421
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • UD 91%
  • Northeastern 66%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • UD 39,995
  • Northeastern 98,425
  • Admitted
  • UD 28,238
  • Northeastern 5,133
  • Acceptance Rate
  • UD 70.6%
  • Northeastern 5.2%
  • Enrolled
  • UD 15.7%
  • Northeastern 53.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • UD 1280
  • Northeastern 1490
  • Typical ACT score
  • UD 30
  • Northeastern 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • UD 3.94
  • Northeastern 3.91
  • Typical High School Grades
  • UD A
  • Northeastern A
  • Admissions Standards
  • UD Very High
  • Northeastern Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • UD Low
  • Northeastern Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • UD 28/32
  • Northeastern 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • UD 1190/1370
  • Northeastern 1440/1540
  • Submit Test Scores
  • UD Test optional
  • Northeastern Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • UD Jan 15, 2027
  • Northeastern Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • UD 16:1
  • Northeastern 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • UD
    • Business (20%)
    • Social Sciences (12%)
    • Education (8%)
    • Engineering (7%)
    • Health Professions (7%)
  • Northeastern
    • Business (25%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • UD 78%
  • Northeastern 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • UD $61,300
  • Northeastern $69,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • UD 80%
  • Northeastern 79%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • UD $24,203
  • Northeastern $27,875
  • Median Loan Payment
  • UD $250
  • Northeastern $288

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • UD 41%
  • Northeastern 48%
  • % Women
  • UD 59%
  • Northeastern 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • UD Low
  • Northeastern High
  • HBCU
  • UD No
  • Northeastern No
  • % White
  • UD 74%
  • Northeastern 48%
  • % Asian
  • UD 5%
  • Northeastern 12%
  • % Black
  • UD 6%
  • Northeastern 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • UD 8%
  • Northeastern 7%
  • % Native American
  • UD 0%
  • Northeastern 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • UD 0%
  • Northeastern 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • UD 3%
  • Northeastern 4%
  • % International
  • UD 4%
  • Northeastern 20%
  • % Unknown Race
  • UD 1%
  • Northeastern 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • UD 39%
  • Northeastern 27%
  • % Out-of-State
  • UD 59%
  • Northeastern 62%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Delaware in Newark, DE with Northeastern University in Boston, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northeastern University is larger than UD based on total student enrollment (32,553 students vs. 24,412 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Delaware is located in Newark, DE (Large Suburban setting); Northeastern University is in Boston, MA (Large City setting).
  • University of Delaware is a public, non-profit 4-year institution. Northeastern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Delaware 16:1; Northeastern University 16:1.

UD vs. Northeastern Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, UD 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 University of Delaware than Northeastern ($19,139 vs. $34,207).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Delaware are 21.4% lower than at Northeastern University ($15,386 vs. $19,580).
  • Northeastern University is 293.6% more expensive for in-state tuition than UD (about $49,352 more per year; $66,162.00 vs. $16,810.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 59.8% higher at Northeastern than at University of Delaware (about $24,762 more per year; $66,162.00 vs. $41,400.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Delaware than at Northeastern University (91% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northeastern University students is 279% larger than aid received by University of Delaware students ($50,421 vs. $13,302).

UD vs. Northeastern Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, UD 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 UD.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Northeastern University (1490) is 210 points higher than at UD (1280).
  • Incoming Northeastern students have a 4 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 30 at UD).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Delaware 1190/1370; Northeastern University 1440/1540.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Delaware 28/32; Northeastern University 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: UD - Test optional; Northeastern - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: UD Jan 15, 2027; Northeastern Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman UD students have a 0.03 point higher average high school GPA (3.94) than students at Northeastern (3.91).
  • UD has a higher acceptance rate (70.6%) than Northeastern (5.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 15.7% at UD vs. 53.8% at Northeastern.

UD vs. Northeastern Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for UD 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).

  • University of Delaware's six-year graduation rate (78%) is higher than Northeastern University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Northeastern University earn a median of about $8,200 more per year than UD graduates about ten years after starting college ($69,500 vs. $61,300), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Delaware graduates have a $3,672 lower median loan debt than Northeastern graduates ($24,203 vs. $27,875).
  • Among borrowers, UD graduates have an estimated $38 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northeastern graduates ($250 vs. $288).
  • More UD graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northeastern students, three years after graduation. (80% 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.