USC vs. Northeastern

Deciding between University of Southern California 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 Southern California
Northeastern University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • USC Los Angeles, CA
  • Northeastern Boston, MA
  • Setting
  • USC Large City
  • Northeastern Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • USC 46,566
  • Northeastern 32,553
  • Type
  • USC Private 4 Year
  • Northeastern Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • USC #37
  • Northeastern #128
  • Religious Affiliation
  • USC -
  • Northeastern -
  • Status
  • USC Non-profit
  • Northeastern Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • USC
  • Northeastern

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • USC $72,097
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • USC $72,097
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • Room & Board
  • USC $19,931
  • Northeastern $19,580
  • Average Net Price
  • USC $43,412
  • Northeastern $34,207
  • Average Grant Aid
  • USC $46,897
  • Northeastern $50,421
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • USC 70%
  • Northeastern 66%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • USC 82,027
  • Northeastern 98,425
  • Admitted
  • USC 8,050
  • Northeastern 5,133
  • Acceptance Rate
  • USC 9.8%
  • Northeastern 5.2%
  • Enrolled
  • USC 43.3%
  • Northeastern 53.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • USC 1500
  • Northeastern 1490
  • Typical ACT score
  • USC 33
  • Northeastern 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • USC 3.83
  • Northeastern 3.91
  • Typical High School Grades
  • USC A-
  • Northeastern A
  • Admissions Standards
  • USC Elite
  • Northeastern Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • USC Very High
  • Northeastern Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • USC 32/35
  • Northeastern 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • USC 1450/1550
  • Northeastern 1440/1540
  • Submit Test Scores
  • USC Test optional
  • Northeastern Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • USC
  • Northeastern Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • USC 9:1
  • Northeastern 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • USC
    • Business (25%)
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (13%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • Northeastern
    • Business (25%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Communication (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • USC 90%
  • Northeastern 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • USC $85,500
  • Northeastern $69,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • USC 81%
  • Northeastern 79%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • USC $22,375
  • Northeastern $27,875
  • Median Loan Payment
  • USC $231
  • Northeastern $288

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • USC 47%
  • Northeastern 48%
  • % Women
  • USC 53%
  • Northeastern 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • USC Very High
  • Northeastern High
  • HBCU
  • USC No
  • Northeastern No
  • % White
  • USC 40%
  • Northeastern 48%
  • % Asian
  • USC 22%
  • Northeastern 12%
  • % Black
  • USC 4%
  • Northeastern 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • USC 14%
  • Northeastern 7%
  • % Native American
  • USC 0%
  • Northeastern 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • USC 0%
  • Northeastern 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • USC 5%
  • Northeastern 4%
  • % International
  • USC 13%
  • Northeastern 20%
  • % Unknown Race
  • USC 1%
  • Northeastern 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • USC 42%
  • Northeastern 27%
  • % Out-of-State
  • USC 39%
  • Northeastern 62%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA with Northeastern University in Boston, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

University of Southern California is larger than Northeastern based on total student enrollment (46,566 students vs. 32,553 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Southern California is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); Northeastern University is in Boston, MA (Large City setting).
  • University of Southern California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Northeastern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Southern California 9:1; Northeastern University 16:1.

USC vs. Northeastern Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USC 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 Northeastern University than USC ($34,207 vs. $43,412).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northeastern University are 1.8% lower than at University of Southern California ($19,580 vs. $19,931).
  • University of Southern California is 9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Northeastern (about $5,935 more per year; $72,097.00 vs. $66,162.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 9% higher at USC than at Northeastern University (about $5,935 more per year; $72,097.00 vs. $66,162.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Southern California than at Northeastern University (70% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northeastern University students is 7.5% larger than aid received by University of Southern California students ($50,421 vs. $46,897).

USC vs. Northeastern Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, USC 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 USC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at University of Southern California (1500) is 10 points higher than at Northeastern (1490).
  • Incoming Northeastern students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at USC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Southern California 1450/1550; Northeastern University 1440/1540.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Southern California 32/35; Northeastern University 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: USC - Test optional; Northeastern - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Northeastern Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Northeastern students have a 0.08 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at USC (3.83).
  • USC has a higher acceptance rate (9.8%) than Northeastern (5.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.3% at USC vs. 53.8% at Northeastern.

USC vs. Northeastern Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for USC 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 Southern California's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than Northeastern University's (77%).
  • Graduates from University of Southern California earn a median of about $16,000 more per year than Northeastern graduates about ten years after starting college ($85,500 vs. $69,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Southern California graduates have a $5,500 lower median loan debt than Northeastern graduates ($22,375 vs. $27,875).
  • Among borrowers, USC graduates have an estimated $57 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northeastern graduates ($231 vs. $288).
  • More USC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northeastern students, three years after graduation. (81% 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.