NEU Acceptance Rate

Northeastern University, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is known for its highly selective undergraduate admissions process. For the Class of 2028, Northeastern reported an overall acceptance rate of approximately 5.6%, reflecting its status as one of the most competitive universities in the United States. This low rate is influenced by a significant increase in the applicant pool, with over 96,000 applications received for the most recent cycle, driven by the university's growing reputation for co-op programs and academic excellence. Northeastern publishes transparent admission statistics through its official website and the Common Data Set, providing detailed insights into selectivity across various applicant categories.

• Overall Acceptance Rate: 5.6%, with approximately 5,400 students admitted out of over 96,000 applicants, marking a slight decrease from the previous year's rate of 6.7%.
• Early Action/Decision Rate: Estimated at 15.0%, significantly higher than regular decision, as Northeastern prioritizes early applicants; exact figures for the Class of 2028 are pending release.
• International Student Rate: Approximately 4.5%, reflecting heightened competition among a growing global applicant pool of over 20,000 international students.

Over the past decade, Northeastern's acceptance rate has trended downward, dropping from 18.1% in 2018 to under 6% today, signaling increasing competitiveness. The university's emphasis on early decision and early action admissions contributes to this selectivity, as a substantial portion of the incoming class is filled through these rounds. Additionally, international student admissions have become more competitive due to Northeastern's global outreach. Compared to peer institutions like Boston University (acceptance rate around 10.7%) or Tufts University (around 9.5%), Northeastern stands out as particularly selective. For the most accurate and updated data, prospective students are encouraged to visit the official admissions page at Northeastern Admissions or review the Common Data Set.