Northeastern University is a highly selective private research university situated in Boston, Massachusetts in the Boston metropolitan area. It is a large university with 20,994 undergraduate students enrolled. Admissions are extremely competitive, as Northeastern's acceptance rate is approximately 6%. Some of the most popular majors are Business, Economics, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, and Information Science. The graduation rate after six years is 91%, and Northeastern graduates earn a median starting salary of about INR 75,71,000 (ten years post-graduation, equivalent to $91,400 median earnings).
Purdue University is a well-known public research institution located in West Lafayette, Indiana within the Lafayette metropolitan area. It is an extremely large school with 37,949 students in undergraduate programs. Admissions are moderately selective, and Purdue's acceptance rate is approximately 50.3%. Popular majors are Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Business, Industrial Engineering, and Aerospace Engineering. Six-year graduation rate is 83%, and the median starting salary upon graduation is around INR 71,20,000 (based on $86,000 median income ten years after graduation).
| Northeastern University | Purdue University | |
|---|---|---|
| ranking (overall) | # 201 Times Higher Education 2026 # 384 QS World University 2026 # 201 Times Higher Education 2025 | # 85 Times Higher Education 2026 # 88 QS World University 2026 # 66 Center for World University Rankings 2025 |
| Subject Strength | # 34 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 389 for Medicine by QS World University 2024 # 68 for Law by US News 2025 | # 6 for Engineering by US News 2025 # 51 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2025 # 301 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -90 PG Programs -92 | UG Programs -197 PG Programs -57 Doctorate Programs -7 |
| Acceptance Rate | 5.6 % | 50.0 % |
| Exam Score | Duolingo-105 IELTS-6.5 PTE-53 TOEFL-79 | Duolingo-115 IELTS-6.5 TOEFL-80 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 19700 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 48000 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 21000 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 31104 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 28203 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 13720 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | Graduate employability rankings: #201-250
Some of the top recruiters are Amazon, iRobot, Morgan Stanley, EY, Bose, Blackstone group, Wellington Management etc | Top recruiters are Cummins Inc, Boeing Company, Eli Lily and Company, Northrop Grumman Corporation, etc.
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| application requirements | LOR- 2 or 3 letters of recommendation, SOP- yes, GPA- 3.5 (89% or more). | Avg GPA required- 3.6 (grade B). Include essay and answers to Purdue questions along with applicant profile. |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.5/10 Read 51 reviews | 7.9/10 Read 18 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 201 for Business by QS World University 2026 # 68 for Business by US News 2025 # 176 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 | # 71 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 # 96 for Business by QS World University 2025 |
| exam scores | Duolingo - 105/160IELTS - 6.5/9PTE - 53/90TOEFL - 79/120 | Duolingo - 140/160IELTS - 8.0/9TOEFL - 105/120 |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | Nov 1, 2025 (Round 1 Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) Jan 1, 2026 (Round 2 Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) May 1, 2026 (Final Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) | Nov 15, 2025 (Priority Admission and Financial Aid Consideration Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) Mar 1, 2026 (Late Priority Admission and Financial Aid Consideration Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) Apr 1, 2026 (Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | Northeastern University | Purdue University |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1898 | 1869 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 16:1 | 15:1:1 |
| Male:Female | 44% Male, 0% Female | 59% Male, 0% Female |
| Location Facts | The campus is located near to Museum of Fine Arts and Symphony Hall. It is situated in the heart of Boston and is filled with greenery. Northeastern University lies in the neighborhood of Huntington Avenue. | West Lafayette campus located in Indiana is the flagship campus of Purdue University System |
| Library | More than 50,000 printed books, 861,676 ebooks, 100,887 licenced e-journals, and 116,739 streaming audio and visual titles.The professional research available is accessible to public (open). | 9 libraries: 6 subject-oriented, Hicks Undergraduate Library, VIrginia Kelly Karnes Archives, Special Collection Research Center, Includes 3,317,331 printed volumes and electronic books; 227,814 electronic and print journals; 400,000 microforms and government documents. |
| Campus Life | 32 intramural sports, 18 varsity sports, and 43 club sports. Additionally, campus offers Fall Fest, Afro Flow Yoga workshop, Field hockey, volleyball, soccer games, Night at the student center, and First pages. | Over 1000 sports clubs and organizations such as A Cause for Paws, Make and Go Maker Space Initiative, 3D Printing Club, Accounting Association, Center for Democratic Citizenship |
| Hostel | #Housing Allowance - $16200 | #Housing and Food - $13720 |
| Famous Alumni | Shawn Fanning (Computer programmer), Wendy Williams (TV host), Reggie Lewis (basketball player), Jane Curtin (actress), James Franklin Jeffrey (American Diplomat), Jeff Clarke (Executive Chairman of FTD), Albert Sacco (Dean Whitacre College of Engineering), Yale Patt (professor), Mo Cowan (former US Senator). | 23 astronauts including Neil Armstrong (first man to walk on moon), Edward Mills Purcell (Nobel laureate, physicist), Yitang Zhang (mathematician), Jeffrey Lacker (Federal Reserve Bank president), James Thompson (CEO of Rand Corporation) |
| City Life | With a huge student community, the population diversity is vast and lies within the same braoder age group. The city offers a great nightlif with gastropubs, live music, and cocktail bars. Boston’s cosmopolitan excitement is bus-ride away. Average salaries offered within the state are up to 97,5000 USD | Lafayette – West Lafayette is situated between Chicago, Illinois and Indianapolis; Has over 40 parks and extensive trail systems, many nationally and international known high-tech corporations and institutions; population is approximately 190,000 |
| Weather |
Northeastern University vs Purdue University
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
Purdue University is ranked #88 in QS and 79th in Times Higher Education with specific excellence in Engineering (among the top 10 in the U.S.), Computer Science, Agriculture, and Business. Northeastern University is ranked #384 in QS and 201-250th in Times Higher Education and is particularly known for Computer Science, Business, Engineering, and Health Sciences, with a high reputation for experiential education through co-ops. Purdue's reputation is more robust in STEM research, whereas Northeastern excels in industry linkage and innovation-focused programs.
General Information
Purdue University, established in 1869, is a public land-grant research university in West Lafayette, Indiana, with a population of more than 50,000 students at both undergraduate and graduate levels. It has a high-volume research and international student population. Northeastern University, established in 1898, is a private research university in Boston, Massachusetts, with approximately 36,000 students on its Boston campus and worldwide network (with campuses in Silicon Valley, Toronto, London, and Vancouver). Purdue is a traditional campus college with major research labs, whereas Northeastern is an urban university focusing on mobility and co-op learning globally.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Purdue's overall acceptance rate is approximately 50.3%, but admission to Computer Science, Engineering, and Business is far more competitive. Northeastern is increasingly selective with acceptance rates of 6% in recent years, and it places high value on strong academics, test scores, and co-curricular activities. Purdue admissions are program-specific and competitive in STEM, whereas Northeastern's are competitive university-wide with its increasing prestige.
Research Impact & Facilities
Purdue is an R1: Very High Research Activity university, with research spending over $600 million per year, and a global top school in Aerospace Engineering, Agriculture, and Computer Science. It has prominent facilities such as the Birck Nanotechnology Center and collaborations with NASA and industry leaders. Northeastern is also an R1 university, with expertise in Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Health Sciences, and Sustainability research. Its industry-engaged model merges research with practical application through co-op and corporate collaborations.
Cost & Financial Aid
Purdue's in-state fees come around $10,500–$11,000, and out-of-state fees are approximately $28,000–$30,000, which makes it extremely affordable among peers. Northeastern is a private school that comes at a higher cost of tuition of $63,000–$65,000 per year. Both have financial aid options, but the affordability of Purdue (particularly for STEM) is a big selling point, and Northeastern has merit and need-based aid as well as opportunities for international students.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
Purdue boasts a worldwide alumni network of more than 600,000 with strong success rates in STEM fields, engineering companies, aviation, space exploration, and Fortune 500 executive levels. Its students are very employable, particularly in engineering and technical sectors. Northeastern alumni thrive in business, technology, healthcare, and entrepreneurship, with its co-op scheme giving direct access to employers globally. Purdue is better in career streams with high STEM content, whereas Northeastern leads in career preparedness, city industry networks, and international employability.
