Northeastern Admission Requirements
Boston, MassachusettsChances of getting into Northeastern University
Acceptance Rate
Acceptance Rate
19.3%| Measure | Difficulty | |
|---|---|---|
| Admission Standards | Elite | |
| Applicant Competition | Very High |
How hard is it to get into Northeastern and can I get accepted? The school has a 19% acceptance rate ranking it #8 in Massachusetts for lowest rate of acceptance. Last year, 12,042 out of 62,272 applicants were admitted making Northeastern a very highly competitive school to get into with a low chance of acceptance for typical applicants. Academically, it has exceptionally high requirements for admission test scores, generally admitting students who score in the top 5 percent. Northeastern University typically accepts and attracts "A-" average high school students. Only 23% of those admitted chose to enroll in the school. Most incoming freshmen graduated in the top ten percent of their high school class.
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Find out which students are getting accepted at Northeastern, which are not, and how your GPA, SAT, or ACT scores compare.
Calculate My ChancesNortheastern SAT Scores
SAT Requirements & Average SAT Score
SAT Range
1360-1540Applicants Submitting SAT
39%| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 25th | 670 |
| SAT Math 25th | 690 |
| SAT Composite 25th | 1360 |
| SAT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| SAT Reading 75th | 750 |
| SAT Math 75th | 790 |
| SAT Composite 75th | 1540 |
| Average SAT Score | 1450 |
SAT Scores you need to get in
What are the SAT requirements for students to be admitted to Northeastern University?
Northeastern University typically requires applicants to be in the top 7 percent of SAT test takers. The school consistently takes SAT composite scores down to 1360 on a 1600 scale, below which admission should be considered a reach. We estimate some students could be accepted with SAT's as low as 1270. The estimated average SAT composite for admitted freshman is 1450 out of 1600. The school ranks #6 in Massachusetts for highest average SAT composite score. 39 percent of applicants submit SAT scores to the school. Note: SAT scores presented on this page have been adjusted upwards per the College Board's concordance tables for test takers after March 2016.
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Estimated Chance of Acceptance by SAT Score
| SAT Score (1600 scale) | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 1540 and Above | Good | >29% |
| 1450 to 1540 | Avg + | 19%-29% |
| 1360 to 1450 | Avg - | 12%-19% |
| 1270 to 1360 | Reach | 8%-12% |
| Less than 1270 | Low | <8% |
Northeastern ACT Scores
ACT Requirements & Average ACT Score
ACT Range
32-34Applicants Submitting ACT
45%| ACT Test | 25th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 25th | 33 |
| ACT Math 25th | 29 |
| ACT Composite 25th | 32 |
| ACT Test | 75th Percentile Score |
|---|---|
| ACT Reading 75th | 35 |
| ACT Math 75th | 34 |
| ACT Composite 75th | 34 |
| Average ACT Score | 33 |
ACT Scores needed to get accepted
What are the ACT requirements for prospective students to get into Northeastern?
Admission data indicates that Northeastern regularly accepts students with ACT's of 32 and above. Successful applicants typically send ACT scores in the top 3 percent nationally. We estimate the school accepting minimum ACT composite scores around 31 in some instances. Prospective students submitting an ACT composite of 33 or higher should be in the upper half of applicants - and students with a 34 and above have very competitive chances. The school ranks #4 in Massachusetts for highest average ACT composite score. 45 percent of applicants submit ACT scores to Northeastern University.
Estimated Chance of Acceptance by ACT Score
| ACT Score | Competitiveness | Admission Chances |
|---|---|---|
| 34 and Above | Good | >29% |
| 33 to 34 | Avg + | 19%-29% |
| 32 to 33 | Avg - | 12%-19% |
| 31 to 32 | Reach | 8%-12% |
| Less than 31 | Low | <8% |
Estimated GPA Requirements & Average GPA
Avg. High School GPA
3.91*Typical High School Grades
A-You will need exceptionally good grades to get into Northeastern University. The average high school GPA of the admitted freshman class at Northeastern University was 3.91 on the 4.0 scale indicating that primarily A- students are accepted and ultimately attend. The school ranks #6 in Massachusetts for highest average GPA. Meeting these GPA requirements alone is not enough to gain admission as Northeastern is a very selective school.
High School Class Rank
64% 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 | 64% |
| Top 25% of class | 91% |
| Top 50% of class | 98% |
| Bottom 50% of class | 2% |
| Bottom 25% of class | 0% |
Admission Statistics
| Women | Men | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Applied | 33,561 | 28,711 | 62,272 |
| Accepted | 6,606 | 5,436 | 12,042 |
| Acceptance Rate | 20% | 19% | 19% |
| Enrolled | 1,440 | 1,306 | 2,746 |
| Percent of Admitted Who Enrolled (Admission Yield) | 22% | 24% | 23% |
Fall 2020 Application Deadline
Applications were Due
Jan 1, 2020Days left to Apply
NoneThe application deadline for Fall 2020 has passed. Applications were due on Jan 1, 2020.
Admission Requirements
What are the requirements for admission to Northeastern University and what considerations affect 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 Consider
Primary data source, U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator/?id=167358 IPEDS survey data for Northeastern University.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Northeastern University prefer SAT or ACT?
39% of students submit their SAT scores to Northeastern. 45% of applicants send their ACT scores when applying.
What is my chance of getting into Northeastern University?
19% 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 1360 and 1540. 39% 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 32 and 34. 45% of students submit ACT scores when applying. See if your ACT score is good enough for admission.
