Your chances of getting into Northeastern University
Admission Rate & Difficulty
Acceptance Rate
The acceptance rate at Northeastern is 18%. Its admission rate is the 7th lowest in Massachusetts and the 55th lowest the nation.
Admission Selectivity
How hard is it to get into Northeastern and can you get accepted?
Northeastern is a very highly competitive school to get into with a low chance of acceptance for typical applicants. Last year, 13,829 out of the 75,244 who applied were admitted.
The school has exceptionally high admission requirements for SAT and ACT scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 2 percent (SAT 1430/1550 ACT 33/35). Northeastern University typically accepts and attracts "A-" average high school students with an average GPA around 3.91. Most incoming freshmen graduate in the top ten percent of their high school class or better. 33% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school.
Check if you have the grades and scores to get into Northeastern and calculate your admission chance.
Admission Requirements in Brief
To have the best chance of getting into to Northeastern University you should:
- Have a high school GPA of 3.91 or better
- Earn A- grades in high school
- Score 1490 on the SAT
- Score 34 on the ACT
- Graduate in the top 10% of your high school class
- Submit letters of recommendation from your teachers
Testing Requirements
You are required to submit admission test scores with your application. Northeastern University is not a test optional school. Note: Please consult the school directly to confirm the most up to date testing requirements.
Northeastern SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 700 |
| SAT Math 25th | 730 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1430 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 760 |
| SAT Math 75th | 790 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1550 |
| Average SAT Score | 1490
|
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to Northeastern University?
Students who get into Northeastern University score in the top 3 percent of all SAT test takers.. The SAT composite score range for the middle 50% of accepted students is 1430-1550 and the average score is 1490. Northeastern ranks #5 in the state of Massachusetts and #27 in the nation for highest average SAT composite score. You should target scoring 1490 or above to be competitive with most other applicants. Northeastern regularly admits students with SAT scores down to 1430 on a 1600 scale, below which admission should be considered a reach. We estimate some students may be accepted with SAT's as low as 1370. 28 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school.
View other colleges which accept students in the 1490 SAT score range.
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2021 starting classChance of Acceptance by SAT Score
The table below outlines your predicted admission chances based on SAT score alone. If you are an average applicant with a score of 1490, you have around a 18% chance of being admitted. A 1490 places you well ahead of most other applicants and gives you about a 29% chance of getting in.
Northeastern ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 34 |
| ACT Math 25th | 30 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 33 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 35 |
| ACT Math 75th | 35 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 35 |
| Average ACT Score | 34
|
ACT Scores needed to get accepted
What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into Northeastern?
Northeastern regularly accepts students who score 33 and above on the ACT. These students typically score in the top 2 percent nationally. The ACT composite score range for the middle 50% of students is 33-35. We estimate the school accepting a minimum ACT composite score around 32 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 34 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants - and students with a 35 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #3 in Massachusetts and #10 in the U.S. for highest average ACT composite score. 14 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Northeastern University.
Find other colleges with similar ACT score requirements
Data Sources, IPEDS for Fall 2021 starting classEstimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
Northeastern GPA
GPA Requirements & Average GPA
What GPA do you need to get into Northeastern University?
You are required to have exceptionally good grades to get into Northeastern. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at Northeastern University was 3.91 on the 4.0 scale. This indicates that primarily A- average high school students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #7 in Massachusetts for highest average GPA. Meeting these GPA requirements alone is not enough for you to gain admission as Northeastern is a very selective school.
See additional colleges accepting applicants in the 3.9 GPA range.
*This school has not released high school GPA data for its incoming freshmen. In these cases, CollegeSimply uses an AI algorithm to predict GPA based on this school's test scores and a large sample of college GPA data. 3.91 is a prediction of the school's average incoming freshman GPA.
High School Class Rank
71% of Northeastern University freshman were in the top ten percent of their high school graduating class.
| High School Class Rank | Freshmen Within Range |
|---|---|
| Top 10% of class | 71% |
| Top 25% of class | 93% |
| Top 50% of class | 99% |
Applying
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 42,709 | 32,535 | 75,244 |
| Accepted | 8,478 | 5,351 | 13,829 |
| Acceptance Rate | 20% | 16% | 18% |
| Enrolled | 2,727 | 1,777 | 4,504 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 32% | 33% | 33% |
Fall 2023 Application Deadline
Applications Due
Days left to Apply
The application deadline for Fall 2023 has passed. Applications were due on Jan 1, 2023.
Application Fee
The cost for prospective students to apply to Northeastern University is $75.
Application Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to Northeastern University and what student information is used for admission decisions?
| Test Scores | Required |
| High School GPA | Required |
| High School Class Rank | Recommended |
| Completion of College Preparatory Program | Recommended |
| Recommendations | Required |
| Demonstration of Competencies | Recommended |
Credits Accepted
| AP Credit | Yes |
| Dual Credit | Yes |
| Credit for Life Experiences | No |
Other Colleges to Apply To
Students applying to Northeastern University often consider these colleges
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=167358 IPEDS survey data for Northeastern University.
FAQs
Does Northeastern University prefer SAT or ACT?
28% of students submit their SAT scores to Northeastern. 14% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.
What is my chance of getting into Northeastern University?
18% of those who apply are granted admission to Northeastern. Admission competition is very high and the college has elite admission standards. See if your grades and scores are good enough for admission.
What SAT score is required for Northeastern University?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have SAT scores between 1430 and 1550. 28% of students submit SAT scores when applying. See if your SAT score is good enough for admission.
What ACT score is required for Northeastern University?
The middle 50% of addmitted applicants have ACT scores between 33 and 35. 14% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.