Northeastern University Admissions 2025 and Acceptance Rate

Northeastern University Admissions 2025: Acceptance Rate, Requirements, & Deadlines

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Shahid Mustaq Murshed's profile photo

Shahid Mustaq Murshed

Study Abroad Content Specialist | Updated 3+ months ago

What's New in NEU Boston?

8 August 2025: Northeastern University’s MBA and MS in Finance program has application deadlines on November 1, 2025, January 1, 2026, and May 1, 2026, with decisions released on a rolling basis for the September intake. Check details.

27 June 2025: Northeastern University has reduced the English language proficiency requirements for its MS in Artificial Intelligence, MS in Data Science, and MS Cybersecurity programs. The recommended TOEFL score is now 90 (down from 100), and the IELTS minimum is 6.5. Check details.

11 June 2025: Northeastern University has updated tuition fees for the 2025–26 academic year. The MS in Computer Science program now costs $60,000 (~INR 51.3 Lakhs), up from $57,100, and the MS in Data Science is now $60,000 (~INR 51.3 Lakhs), up from $59,392. Check details.

Northeastern University admissions feature a 5.22% acceptance rate from 98,425 applications in Fall 2024. Undergraduate applicants can apply for Early Decision I and Early Action (November 1), Early Decision II and Regular Decision (January 1) deadlines. Graduate programs vary by college: College of Science master's programs deadline July 1-15, PhD programs December 1; College of Engineering fall intake December 1 (early action) to June 1 (final); College of Social Sciences and Humanities master's programs June 15, PhD December 1.

Indian students applying to Northeastern University need class XII Higher Secondary Certificate with 97-100% marks (middle 50% admitted range: GPA 4.2-4.5) for undergraduate programs. Graduate applicants require a minimum 85% (3.0 GPA) in a US-equivalent bachelor’s degree. Indian students also need to meet English language proficiency by submitting TOEFL iBT 79-113 or IELTS 6.5-7.5, depending on the program.

Read More: Northeastern University Reviews and Ratings


Northeastern University Acceptance Rate

In the Fall 2024 intake, Northeastern University received 98,425 applications and accepted only 5,133 from them. This portrays that the Northeastern University acceptance rate is 5.22% for domestic and international undergraduate students.

For international students, Northeastern acceptance rate is even low at 3.8%. Out of 17,616 international applications in Fall 2024, NU accepted only 671. However, the graduate acceptance rate varies depending on the program/ department. Currently, NU has 15,285 international students enrolled in its undergraduate and graduate programs.

Read More: Northeastern University Acceptance Rate


Northeastern University Application Deadlines

Northeastern University offers a comprehensive undergraduate admissions process, with multiple application options. Early Decision applicants receive priority consideration, by choosing Northeastern University as their first choice. Early Action and Regular Decision applicants receive admission offers without binding commitments. The application deadlines for undergraduate programs at Northeastern University are as follows:

Application Type Application Deadline Decision Notification Binding
Early Decision I November 1 By January 1 Yes
Early Decision II January 1 By March 1 Yes
Early Action November 1 By February 15 No
Northeastern RD Deadline (Regular Decision) January 1 By April 1 No

Must Read: Difference Between Early Decision, Early Action and Regular Decision


Northeastern University Graduate Application Deadlines

Graduate programs at Northeastern University have distinct application deadlines depending on the program/ department. Unlike undergraduate programs, graduate programs have intake wise application deadlines.

Northeastern University College of Science Application Deadlines

Programs Fall Intake Deadlines Spring Intake Deadlines
Master’s Degree *July 1, 2025, for students without an F-1 visa | July 15, 2025, for students with an F-1 Visa Nov 1, 2025, for students without an F-1 visa | Nov 15, 2025, for students with an F-1 Visa
Graduate Certificate July 1, 2025, for students without an F-1 visa | July 15, 2025, for students with an F-1 Visa Nov 1, 2025, for students without an F-1 visa | Nov 15, 2025, for students with an F-1 Visa
PhD December 1, 2025 (priority), then rolling until March 15, 2026 Not offered

*Note: Only for MS Marine Biology, MS Applied Physics and Engineering, and MS Physics.


Northeastern University College of Professional Studies Application Deadlines

Northeastern University application deadline for fall 2025 for graduate programs are as follows.

Event Fall 2025 Deadlines
Application Completion July 7, 2025
Enrollment Confirmation July 21, 2025
Initial I-20 Request Deadline July 21, 2025
Graduate Semester Starts Sept 3, 2025

Northeastern University College of Social Sciences and Humanities Application Deadlines

Intakes Masters Programs PhD Programs
Fall June 15, 2025 Dec 1, 2025
Spring Oct 1, 2025 Not offered

Northeastern University College of Engineering Application Deadlines

Intake Early Action Deadline Final Deadline
Fall (for MS and PhD) December 1, 2025 June 1, 2026
Spring (for MS only) Not offered October 1, 2025

Northeastern University Admissions Requirements for Graduate Programs

Northeastern University admissions are offered to international students in 200+ graduate programs. Indian students require a minimum GPA of 3.0 (85%) on a 4.0 scale for admission to the university. Details of admission to the university are as follows:

Northeastern University Admissions Portal: Course/ Department Specific

Application Fee: $100 (waived for some schools and colleges)

Requirement Details
Online Application Submit through the official application portal.
Unofficial Transcripts Must be submitted at the time of application; official transcripts required upon admission, including proof of bachelor’s degree.
GPA 3.0 (85%) out of 4.0 scale
Statement of Purpose 500-1000 words outlining educational goals and program expectations; must follow plagiarism policy.
Professional Resume Required for all applicants, detailing academic and professional experience.
Letters of Recommendation 2 LORs, 1 academic and another professional LOR | 1 recommendation from the current employer is preferred.
English Language Requirements TOEFL iBT: 79 (minimum writing score: 20) | IELTS: 6.5 (no band lower than 6.0) | PTE: 53 | DET: 105

Northeastern University MBA Admissions Requirements

The Northeastern MBA is considered to be one of the best MBA programs in Boston and USA. The annual tuition fee for the program is 103,620 USD. Explore the admissions requirements mentioned below.

Application Portal: Online

Application Fee: 100 USD

  • A personal statement (<=500 words) and a short essay (<=300 words)
  • Updated Resume
  • Two letters of recommendation
  • Academic transcript(s) from all undergraduate and graduate schools attended
  • Kira online interview (by invitation)
  • Optional GMAT/GRE test scores*
  • English language proficiency:
    • TOEFL iBT: 79
    • IELTS: 6.5
    • PTE: 53
    • DET: 105
  • Passport or permanent residency card (if applicable)

*Note: GMAT/ GRE scores are optional for Northeastern University admissions. If you chose to submit a GMAT score, note that the average GMAT score of admitted students is 623.


Northeastern University MBA Application Deadlines

The application deadline to apply for Northeastern University MBA program has already passed for Fall 2025. The tentative deadlines and decision dates for Fall 2026 are as follows. 

Round Deadline Decision By
1 Oct. 24, 2025 Dec. 19
2 Jan. 9, 2026 March 20
3 March 27, 2026 May 8
Final May 15, 2026 June 12

Read More: MBA in USA Deadlines


Northeastern University Admissions Requirements for Undergraduate Programs

Northeastern University offers 329 majors and 199 combined majors across nine undergraduate colleges. Admission is based on academic qualifications, standardized test scores (optional), and English proficiency. International applicants must submit official transcripts and supporting documents through designated channels.

Application Portal: Common Application or Coalition

Application Fee: Non-refundable $75 or fee waiver request

Requirement Details
Coursework and Grades Form Required for all first-year applicants through the Application Status Check.
Academic Qualifications General Secondary Education Certificate or Indian Standard XII Higher Secondary School Certificate | Average GPA of Middle 50% of Admitted Students: 4.2-4.5 (97-100%)
Transcripts Official high school transcripts sent directly from the school; certified English translations required if transcripts are not in English (accepted agencies: CED, SpanTran, WES, etc.)
Standardized Tests (Optional) SAT or ACT scores are optional but recommended | Middle 50% SAT score range: 1480-1540
English Proficiency Requirements TOEFL iBT: 106-113 | IELTS: 7.5-8.0 | PTE Academic: 73-78 | Duolingo English Test: 135-145
Letters of Recommendation Required from teachers or counselors
Additional Requirements InitialView or Vericant video interviews (optional; do not replace English proficiency tests)

Northeastern University Admissions Decision Dates

Northeastern University offers multiple admission options to suit different applicant preferences. Early Decision is designed for students who are certain that Northeastern is their top choice and are willing to commit upon acceptance. Regular Decision provides more flexibility for students who wish to submit additional academic records from their senior year.

Early Decision (ED):

  • ED applicants are bound to enroll if admitted to their first-choice program.
  • If admitted to a program that was not their top preference, the decision will be non-binding.
  • This policy applies to all five first-year enrollment opportunities.

Regular Decision (RD):

  • RD applicants are not required to commit upon admission.
  • It allows students to submit their first-semester senior year grades.
  • This option provides additional time to refine and complete the application

Explore: Northeastern University Student Profiles


With 15,285 international students currently enrolled across 329 undergraduate majors and 200+ graduate programs, Northeastern University maintains its position as a top-tier institution. The 3.8% international acceptance rate and average MBA GMAT score of 623 reflect the university's competitive standards.


FAQs

Ques: Is Northeastern a hard college to get into?

Ans: Yes, Northeastern is extremely difficult to get into with a 5.22% overall acceptance rate from 98,425 applications. The middle 50% of admitted students have GPAs between 4.2-4.5 (97-100%) and SAT scores ranging 1480-1540. For international students, admission is even more competitive at 3.8% acceptance rate (671 accepted from 17,616 applications in fall 2024).

Ques: How do I get into Northeastern University from India?

Ans: To get into Northeastern from Indian, students must achieve 97-100% marks in Standard XII Higher Secondary Certificate for undergraduate programs or minimum 85% (3.0 GPA) for graduate programs. Additionally, they need to have a minimum IELTS score of 6.5-7.5 or TOEFL iBT score of 79, depending on the program.

Ques: Why does Northeastern have such a low acceptance rate?

Ans: Northeastern received 98,425 applications but accepted only 5,133 students, creating a 5.22% acceptance rate. With 329 undergraduate majors, 199 combined majors, and 200+ graduate programs across nine colleges, Northeastern attracts high application volumes while maintaining selective admission standards.

Northeastern University Program Fees & Deadlines

ProgramImportant DatesFeesApplication FeesEligibilityFinancial Aid
Application Deadline for Spring 2026 Intake (1st Nov 2025)
Application Deadline for Fall 2026 Intake (1st May 2026)
USD 30,000 /Yr100GPA 3.0 , TOEFL- 90, IELTS - 6.5,
Application Deadline for Spring 2026 Intake (1st Nov 2025)
Application Deadline for Fall 2026 Intake (1st May 2026)
USD 30,000 /Yr100GPA 3.0 , TOEFL- 90, IELTS - 6.5,
Application Deadline For Spring 2026 Intake (1st Nov 2025)
Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake (1st May 2026)
USD 30,000 /Yr100GPA: 3.0| TOEFL- 90 | IELTS- 6.5
Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake (3rd Nov 2025)
Enrollment Confirmation for Winter 2026 (17th Nov 2025)
Application Deadline For Spring 2026 Intake (2nd Feb 2026)
Enrollment Confirmation for Spring 2026 (16th Feb 2026)
Application Deadline For Winter 2026 Intake (6th Jul 2026)
Enrollment Confirmation for Fall 2026 (20th Jul 2026)
USD 29,160 /Yr100GPA: 3.0 , TOEFL : 79, IELTS: 6.5, Duolingo-105,PTE- 53
Round 1 Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake (1st Nov 2025)
Round 2 Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake (1st Jan 2026)
Final Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake (1st May 2026)
USD 51,200 /Yr100GPA: 3.0, TOEFL : 79, IELTS: 6.5, Duolingo-105, PTE- 53
Application Deadline for Spring 2026 Intake (1st Nov 2025)
Early Action for Fall 2026 Intake (1st Dec 2025)
Final Deadline for Fall 2026 Intake (1st Jun 2026)
USD 30,864 /Yr100GPA: 3.0, TOEFL : 79, IELTS: 6.5, Duolingo: 105
Application Deadline For Spring 2026 Intake (1st Nov 2025)
Final Application Deadline For Spring 2026 Intake (15th Nov 2025)
Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake (1st Jul 2026)
Final Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake (15th Jul 2026)
USD 31,008 /Yr100GPA: 3.0, TOEFL : 90, IELTS: 6.5, Duolingo-120 ,PTE- 61
Application Deadline Spring 2026 Entry (1st Nov 2025)
Early Action Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Entry (1st Dec 2025)
Final Deadline Fall 2026 Entry (1st Jun 2026)
USD 30,864 /Yr100GPA: 3.0, TOEFL : 79, IELTS: 6.5, Duolingo: 105
Application Deadline For Spring Term (1st Nov 2025)
Application Deadline For Fall Term (1st May 2026)
USD 57,120 /Yr100GPA: 3.0, TOEFL : 100, IELTS: 7.5, Duolingo-120
Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake (3rd Nov 2025)
Enrollment Confirmation for Winter 2026 (17th Nov 2025)
Application Deadline For Spring 2026 Intake (2nd Feb 2026)
Enrollment Confirmation for Spring 2025 (16th Feb 2026)
Application Deadline For Winter 2026 Intake (6th Jul 2026)
Enrollment Confirmation for Fall 2026 (20th Jul 2026)
USD 29,160 /Yr100GPA: 3.0 , TOEFL : 79, IELTS: 6.5, Duolingo-105,PTE- 53

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51 Reviews Found

KR
9.3 /10

Scholarship

  • The Real Story on Scholarships and Financial Aid
  • Let me be completely honest about the scholarship situation because I wish someone had explained this to me before I applied.
  • My Scholarship
    • I received the Double Husky Scholarship, which is exclusively for Northeastern alumni. Since I did my undergrad here, I automatically qualified when I enrolled in the graduate programme. The scholarship covered 25% of my tuition, which worked out to roughly $14,250 over the entire 32-credit programme. That discount honestly made a huge difference in my decision to stay at NEU rather than exploring other schools. Without it, I probably would've looked more seriously at state schools with lower tuition.
  • What My Classmates Got
    • In my cohort of around 60 students, I'd say only about 10-12 people had any meaningful financial support. Most students were paying full price, which was a reality check for a lot of us.
    • A couple of students landed Teaching Assistant positions, which came with a stipend of around $2,000-$3,000 per semester plus a partial tuition waiver covering maybe 25-50% of their credits. One guy I knew got a Research Assistant position working on a funded project, and his deal was even better—full tuition coverage plus a $15,000 annual stipend. But those positions are incredibly competitive and usually require you to have specific technical skills the professor needs.
    • Three or four international students had external funding—government scholarships from their home countries or corporate sponsorships. One woman from India had a full scholarship from her country's education ministry. Another classmate's employer back in Brazil was covering everything because they wanted him to return with advanced management training.
  • The Average Picture
    • If I had to estimate, only about 15-20% of students received any aid at all. Among those who did, the average was probably around $5,000-$10,000 total for the programme—enough to help but nowhere near covering everything. The few with RA/TA positions or full external scholarships were definitely the exception, not the rule.

academic: 10/10
faculty: 10/10
infrastructure: 10/10
accomodation: 8/10
placement: 8/10
extracurricular: 10/10

Scholarship

  • I haven't heard of scholarships for Master students as such.
  • But, one of my friends is really an exceptional student who got to work under a prof and they waived off her semester fee. That's like 1% of master's students.
  • And I've done TA and got paid really well.
  • TAs/RAs are paid enough. And the univ even offers co-ops and part-time jobs which are sufficient enough to live in Boston.

academic: 8/10
faculty: 8/10
infrastructure: 10/10
accomodation: 8/10
placement: 6/10
extracurricular: 10/10

Scholarship

  • There are no scholarships for Master's students. Therefore, I did not receive any scholarship. You could only get a scholarship if you're a bachelor's student, which is again, too expensive.
  • Nobody from my batch received any scholarship since we were all graduate students. Some people did, but they were part of a different school, so I can't really say much about them.

academic: 6/10
faculty: 4/10
infrastructure: 10/10
accomodation: 4/10
placement: 2/10
extracurricular: 4/10

academic: 6/10
faculty: 6/10
infrastructure: 8/10
accomodation: 4/10
placement: 4/10
extracurricular: 4/10

R
9.3 /10

Scholarship

  • Scholarships depend on the courses and also on your performance.
  • I did not receive any scholarship, as there was no scholarship given to our program masters student.
  • A definite number of scholarships could be a little difficult to give out but given WPI is a smaller school in number, they try to give out as many as they can and again, it depends on the program you choose. Undergraduates end up getting a good amount of scholarship.

academic: 10/10
faculty: 10/10
infrastructure: 10/10
accomodation: 8/10
placement: 8/10
extracurricular: 10/10

Scholarship

  • No, I did not receive any scholarship.
  • None of my classmates or people from my coursework received any scholarship that I am aware of.
  • I think there is a way we can waive off subjects that we have covered in our undergrad but when it comes to scholarship the chances of getting one is very rare, in my opinion also because of the competition. I am not much aware of the average number of students receiving scholarships per year.

academic: 8/10
faculty: 8/10
infrastructure: 10/10
accomodation: 8/10
placement: 8/10
extracurricular: 8/10

Scholarship

  • No international students are offered with any scholarship. Only undergraduate students and graduate students who are US citizens get scholarship of 50%.
  • None of my friends or any seniors got any scholarships from any batch. I haven't heard anything such as scholarships for us at Northeastern University. You must be a US citizen or Permanent US resident who is eligible to vote, only they get the scholarships.

academic: 6/10
faculty: 4/10
infrastructure: 6/10
accomodation: 8/10
placement: 1/10
extracurricular: 8/10

Scholarship

  • Yes, I received a scholarship of 1,000 dollars called the Global Learner Award. It is basically given to all the students who got an admit and have enrolled in the Khoury College of Computer Sciences.
  • The award amount was 1,000 dollars.
  • Yes, some of my batchmates received other scholarships of 5% on the total tuition fee. This is only given to students enrolled in the Khoury College of Computer Sciences and who have a very good profile.
  • While I don't know the exact number of students getting scholarships each year, I can say that getting a scholarship for the Khoury College of Computer Sciences is easy, as if you have gotten into the Khoury College of Computer Sciences, that means that you are already among the top students in the university. The typical award amount is 1,000 dollars.

+14 more
academic: 8/10
faculty: 4/10
infrastructure: 6/10
accomodation: 4/10
placement: 8/10
extracurricular: 8/10

Scholarship

  • At Northeastern University, scholarships are primarily awarded to undergraduate students, covering a wide array of courses. Each of these courses can offer scholarships of up to $10,000 per semester.
  • Typically, more than ten students per course benefit from these scholarships. This system aims to support a diverse student body, helping to alleviate the financial burden of higher education for undergraduates. Unfortunately, these scholarships don't seem to extend as frequently to graduate programs, which might be why you didn't receive one for your course.

+2 more
academic: 10/10
faculty: 10/10
infrastructure: 10/10
accomodation: 10/10
placement: 8/10
extracurricular: 10/10

MS
7.0 /10

Scholarship

  • Not that I am aware of. If you had a GRE score of above 320 and you had applied to this course, then probably you will be able to get this scholarship. The Biotech A2M Scholars Program is applicable for students who have graduated with a Master's for Bioinformatics/Biotechnology.
  • From Northeastern University, if you are enrolled in the College of Science, I believe around 8–10 for a particular course. The award amount would be around $2,000 fee exempt.

academic: 10/10
faculty: 8/10
infrastructure: 8/10
accomodation: 4/10
placement: 6/10
extracurricular: 6/10

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