Northeastern University, based in Boston, Massachusetts, is ranked world #11 in ARWU Business Administration 2025, its single highest subject placement across any global ranking body. In QS World University Rankings 2027, the university stands at #385, with its Pharmacy and Pharmacology programme placed in the global #101-150 band.

  • QS World University Rankings 2027: #385 globally
  • Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026: #228 globally, #94 in USA
  • THE World University Rankings 2026: #201-250 band
  • ARWU 2025: #201-300 globally, with Business Administration at world #11

What this means for Indian applicants: Northeastern’s overall world position in the #385 band sits well outside the global top 200, but its subject ranks tell a sharper story. Business Administration at world #11 in ARWU 2025 places D’Amore-McKim inside the global top 15 for that field, ahead of many universities ranked higher overall. For an Indian applicant choosing a US destination by subject reputation rather than headline rank, Northeastern is a stronger pick for business and pharmacy than its #385 QS suggests.

Read More: Northeastern University Admissions 2026: Deadlines, Eligibility and Acceptance Rate for Indian Students

Northeastern University Overall Rankings 2027

Four major global ranking bodies cover Northeastern University, with positions spread from a top-15 subject placement in ARWU Business Administration to a #201-250 overall band in THE. The table below consolidates every verified overall rank in the current edition window.

Ranking Body (Latest Edition)Northeastern University Rank
Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026#228 globally, #94 in USA
QS World University Rankings 2027#385
THE World University Rankings 2026#201-250
ARWU 2025#201-300

QS, which judges universities on academic reputation, employer opinion and research, places Northeastern roughly 100 positions higher than THE and ARWU at the overall level. The gap between QS at #385 and THE at #201-250 reflects QS’s stronger weighting of reputation surveys, where Northeastern’s US co-op brand carries real weight.

Key insight: Across 4 bodies, Northeastern’s overall rank moves within roughly 100 positions, but its strongest subject rank (#11 in ARWU Business Administration) sits more than 370 places above its weakest overall band, the widest subject-vs-overall gap on this page.

Northeastern University Rankings: Bottom Line for Indian Students

For an Indian applicant comparing Northeastern University against home options like the IITs, the headline rank tells only part of the story. Subject ranks, USA-specific cuts and 5-year stability matter more for a degree that will be held for decades.

Ranking SignalNortheastern RankWhat it means for Indian applicants
QS World 2027 overall#385IIT Bombay sits at #134 globally, so Northeastern trails on raw world rank; the case for it sits in subject specialisation and US co-op exposure, not headline reputation.
ARWU Business Administration 2025#11 globallyD’Amore-McKim sits inside the global top 15 in business research, a stronger placement than most US universities ranked higher overall, useful for MBA and MS in Management applicants.
THE Computer Science 2026#98The CS programme places nearly 290 positions higher than the university overall, a credibility signal that travels well in Indian tech-recruiter circles.
Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026#94 in USASits inside the US top 100 for Indian-applicant relevance, with Computer Science at #38 USA and Law at #41 USA being the strongest subject cuts.
5-year QS band#375 to #396A 21-position spread means the degree value is unlikely to swing between intake years, so a 2026 admit faces no meaningful rank risk versus a 2024 admit.

The closest Indian alternative on QS, IIT Bombay at #134, outranks Northeastern by 251 positions globally. The trade for an Indian student picking Northeastern is therefore narrow: lower overall rank in exchange for subject strength in business and CS, US co-op placements and direct access to the Boston tech and biotech corridor.

Northeastern University QS World University Rankings 2027

Northeastern University is ranked #385 in QS World University Rankings 2027, the edition released in June 2026. QS, which scores universities based on academic and employer reputation surveys, research citations, faculty-student ratio and international diversity, is the primary global ranking used by Indian applicants.

Over the last 5 QS editions, Northeastern’s rank has moved within a 21-position band, from a best of #375 to a worst of #396, never breaching the global top 350.

YearNortheastern University QS World Rank
2027#385
2026#384
2025#396
2024#375
2023#388

The 5-year average comes in close to #385, with the sharpest single-edition jump landing between QS 2025 and QS 2026, where Northeastern gained 12 positions from #396 to #384. The latest year-on-year change is just 1 position (from #384 to #385), so the QS rank effectively rests flat for incoming 2026 and 2027 intakes. For Indian applicants, the practical signal is that degree value stays unaffected by edition-to-edition movements.

Key insight: Northeastern’s largest single-edition gain came between QS 2025 and QS 2026, recovering 12 positions, and that gain has held into QS 2027, meaning the recovery is not a one-edition swing.

Read More: Northeastern University Courses and Fees 2026 for Indian Students

Collegedunia Study Abroad Rankings of Northeastern University

Collegedunia’s Study Abroad ranking, which evaluates universities specifically for Indian applicants by combining international fees, acceptance rate, employability and subject mix, places Northeastern University at #228 globally and #94 in USA in its 2026 edition. The table below lists every confirmed Collegedunia rank for the university.

CategoryCollegedunia Rank
Global Overall#228
USA Overall#94
Computer Science (USA)#38
Law (USA)#41
Engineering (USA)#45
Social Studies (USA)#65
Humanities (USA)#79
Arts (USA)#79
Healthcare (USA)#82
Medicine (USA)#82

Computer Science at #38 and Law at #41 are Northeastern’s two highest USA-only ranks, both inside the US top 50 and ahead of the university’s #94 overall USA position. The 56-place lift from the overall USA rank to the CS rank is the cleanest signal that Northeastern is a stronger CS destination than its university-wide position implies, a finding that lines up with the THE Computer Science rank of #98 globally.

India-relevance: The gap between Northeastern’s #94 overall USA rank and its #38 USA Computer Science rank is 56 places, which is one of the wider subject-vs-overall gaps in the US top 100 cohort and a direct signal for Indian MS in CS applicants.

Northeastern University Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings

Northeastern University is placed in the #201-250 band in Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2026, the edition released in October 2025. THE, which scores universities mainly on citation impact, research output, teaching reputation and industry income, gives a sharper research-and-teaching read than QS.

Looking past the overall band, THE’s subject view is where Northeastern’s profile sharpens significantly.

THE 2026 SubjectNortheastern University Rank
Computer Science#98
Psychology#98
Law#101-125
Business and Economics#176-200
Life Sciences#176-200
Engineering#201-250
Physical Sciences#201-250
Social Sciences#201-250
Medical and Health#251-300
Arts and Humanities#301-400

Computer Science and Psychology, both at #98, are the only 2 THE subjects where Northeastern crosses into the global top 100, sitting roughly 105 positions higher than the university’s overall #201-250 band. For an Indian MS in Computer Science applicant, the THE subject rank of #98 is the single strongest reputation signal that the programme rivals universities ranked considerably higher overall, so the brand value of the CS degree travels far beyond the headline university position.

What it signals: The 105-place gap between THE Computer Science (#98) and THE overall (#201-250) is one of the widest CS-vs-overall gaps among ranked US universities, meaning a Northeastern CS degree reads stronger than a Northeastern degree in general.

Northeastern University ARWU (Shanghai) Rankings 2025

Northeastern University is placed in the #201-300 band in ARWU 2025. ARWU, also known as the Shanghai Ranking, scores universities mainly on research output, Nobel laureate counts and highly cited researchers, so it carries the heaviest weight for research-track applicants.

Across 5 consecutive ARWU editions, Northeastern has stayed inside the same band, signalling absolute stability in research-output terms.

YearNortheastern University ARWU World Rank
2025#201-300
2024#201-300
2023#201-300
2022#201-300
2021#201-300

A flat 5-year line in ARWU’s research-based ranking is a positive signal for Indian applicants planning PhDs or research-track masters, because volatility in this body usually reflects methodology shifts rather than university quality. The headline overall band, however, hides the much sharper subject story underneath, where Northeastern picks up its strongest single rank across any global body.

ARWU GRAS 2025 SubjectNortheastern University Rank
Business Administration#11
Communication#27
Psychology#46
Electrical and Electronic Engineering#51-75
Computer Science and Engineering#51-75
Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences#51-75
Sociology#51-75
Artificial Intelligence#76-100

Business Administration at world #11 is more than 370 positions higher than Northeastern’s overall QS rank of #385, and inside the global top 15 in that field. Communication at #27 and Psychology at #46 complete a trio of subjects placed in the global top 50 by ARWU, while AI sits in the #76-100 band, meaning Indian applicants targeting business, communication, psychology or AI are looking at a university whose research is genuinely first-tier in those fields.

Trend signal: Three ARWU GRAS subjects (Business Administration, Communication, Psychology) sit inside the global top 50, while the overall ARWU rank sits at #201-300, a 150-plus-position gap that defines Northeastern’s subject-led profile.

Northeastern University Subject Rankings

Northeastern University’s subject rankings are concentrated in business, computer science, communication, psychology and pharmacy. Across these subjects, the university ranks substantially higher than its overall #385 QS position, and three subjects cross into the global top 50.

Strongest subject signals (across QS, THE, ARWU and Collegedunia)

  • Business Administration: #11 globally in ARWU GRAS 2025, the university’s single highest rank across any body.
  • Communication: #27 globally in ARWU GRAS 2025.
  • Psychology: #46 in ARWU 2025 and #98 in THE 2026.
  • Computer Science: #98 in THE 2026, #51-75 in ARWU GRAS 2025, #38 in Collegedunia USA 2026.
  • Pharmacy and Pharmacology: #101-150 in QS 2026 and #51-75 in ARWU GRAS 2025.

Northeastern University Business and Management Rankings

The D’Amore-McKim School of Business carries the university’s strongest concentration of subject ranks, with ARWU placing it inside the global top 15 and QS publishing specialised programme ranks for its masters and MBA.

Ranking Body and EditionProgrammeRank
ARWU GRAS 2025Business Administration#11
QS Business Masters Rankings 2026Masters in Supply Chain Management#41
QS Business Masters Rankings 2026International Trade Masters and MBA#53
QS Global Full-time MBA 2026Full-time MBA in United States#71
QS Business Masters Rankings 2026Masters in Management#86
THE 2026Business and Economics#176-200

The 165-place gap between ARWU’s #11 view of Business Administration and THE’s #176-200 placement for Business and Economics reflects what each body measures: ARWU prioritises research citations while THE blends teaching reputation with research. For Indian applicants choosing a business masters or MBA, the specialised QS programme ranks (#41 for Supply Chain Management and #71 for the US Full-time MBA) are more decision-relevant than either composite, because they reflect the actual courses being applied to.

Northeastern University Computer Science Rankings

Computer Science is the subject where Northeastern reads cleanest for Indian applicants, with four independent sources placing it in the global top 100 or US top 50.

Ranking Body and EditionSubjectRank
THE World Rankings by Subject 2026Computer Science#98
ARWU GRAS 2025Computer Science and Engineering#51-75
ARWU GRAS 2025Artificial Intelligence#76-100
Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026 (USA)Computer Science#38

Every body that ranks the subject places Northeastern’s computer science programme between USA #38 and global #100, with no body dropping it below the global top 100. The 287-position lift from QS’s overall #385 to THE’s Computer Science #98 is the cleanest subject-vs-overall gap on this page, a signal Indian MS in CS or AI applicants can use to argue that the degree’s reputation travels far beyond the headline university rank.

India-relevance: For Indian MS in Computer Science or AI applicants, Northeastern’s CS rank cluster (#38 USA, #98 THE, #51-75 ARWU, #76-100 AI) is the single best argument for choosing it over a higher-ranked university with weaker CS credentials.

Northeastern University Pharmacy and Pharmacology Rankings

Pharmacy and Pharmacology is Northeastern’s second-strongest cross-body subject, ranked by both QS and ARWU inside the global top 150.

Ranking Body and EditionSubjectRank
QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026Pharmacy and Pharmacology#101-150
ARWU GRAS 2025Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences#51-75

Both bodies place pharmacy inside the global top 150, with ARWU putting it inside the global top 75, more than 280 positions above Northeastern’s overall QS rank of #385. For Indian PharmD, MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences or biomedical applicants, this is the second subject (after business) where Northeastern’s standing meaningfully outperforms its headline university position.

Northeastern University Rankings: Indian Student Outlook

For an Indian applicant, Northeastern University’s rank picture reads as a subject-over-overall story. The overall position in the #201-250 to #385 band hides three subjects placed in the global top 50 and a fourth (Computer Science) inside the global top 100.

Programs Indian students most commonly choose at Northeastern, ranked by domain alignment with subject strengths:

  • MS in Computer Science: Aligned with THE CS #98, ARWU CSE #51-75 and Collegedunia USA CS #38.
  • MS in Data Science and MS in Analytics: Tied to ARWU CSE and the AI subject rank of #76-100.
  • MS in Information Systems and MS in Engineering Management: Linked to ARWU Business Administration #11 and ARWU CSE #51-75.
  • MBA at D’Amore-McKim: Linked to ARWU Business Administration #11 and QS Full-time MBA in US #71.
  • MS in Project Management: Linked to QS Masters in Management #86 and ARWU Business Administration #11.
Ranking SignalNortheastern University DataIndian-applicant read
QS 2027 overall vs closest Indian alternative#385 vs IIT Bombay #134IIT Bombay leads on overall world rank by 251 positions; Northeastern’s draw lies elsewhere.
ARWU Business Administration 2025#11 globallyInside global top 15, the strongest single credential D’Amore-McKim carries for MBA applicants.
THE Computer Science 2026#98 globallySubject sits 287 positions higher than the university overall.
5-year QS rank band#375 to #39621-position spread means degree value is stable across 2025, 2026 and 2027 intakes.
Collegedunia Study Abroad USA 2026#94 overall, #38 in CSCS is the strongest USA-specific cut, useful for Indian tech-track applicants.

Key insight

  • Subject reads stronger than overall: Three ARWU GRAS subjects (Business Administration #11, Communication #27, Psychology #46) sit inside the global top 50 while the overall ARWU band is #201-300, a 150-plus position gap.
  • Best decision factor for MBA applicants: ARWU Business Administration #11 globally outranks the bulk of US peer business schools and is the single strongest credential the university carries.
  • Best decision factor for CS applicants: Four independent bodies place CS between USA #38 and global #100, none lower.
  • Volatility-free rank trend: QS movement across 5 years stays inside a 21-position band, so degree value is stable across intake years.
  • Trade-off versus IIT Bombay: IIT Bombay outranks Northeastern by 251 QS positions globally, so the Indian applicant trades overall world rank for US co-op exposure and stronger business and CS subject ranks.

Northeastern University’s rank picture reads cleanly once overall position is separated from subject signals. The overall band of #385 in QS 2027 and #201-250 in THE 2026 places it outside the global elite, but the #11 ARWU Business Administration and #98 THE Computer Science ranks put it inside the global top 100 in 2 of the subjects Indian applicants apply to most. For an Indian student deciding between Northeastern and an IIT-tier alternative, the trade is co-op exposure and US placement networks against an Indian institution’s higher overall world ranking, with 5-year QS volatility of only 21 positions confirming the choice carries no meaningful intake-year risk.

Northeastern University Ranking FAQs

Ques. What is the QS ranking of Northeastern University in 2027?

Ans. Northeastern University is ranked #385 in QS World University Rankings 2027, the edition released in June 2026. The university dropped just 1 position from its 2026 rank of #384, after gaining 12 positions in the previous edition cycle.

Ques. Has Northeastern University’s QS ranking risen so greatly in recent years?

Ans. Northeastern’s QS World rank has moved within a 21-position band over 5 editions, from #375 in QS 2024 to #396 in QS 2025, settling at #385 in 2027. The sharpest single-edition gain was 12 positions between QS 2025 and QS 2026, which has held into the latest edition.

Ques. What is Northeastern University’s Times Higher Education ranking in 2026?

Ans. Northeastern University is placed in the #201-250 band in Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026. THE subject ranks place it considerably higher in Computer Science and Psychology, both at #98 globally.

Ques. Is Northeastern University ranked in ARWU?

Ans. Northeastern University sits in the #201-300 band in ARWU 2025, the same band it has held for 5 consecutive editions from 2021 to 2025. Its strongest ARWU GRAS subject rank is Business Administration at #11 globally, the highest subject rank the university carries across any global body.

Ques. What is Northeastern University’s ranking for Computer Science?

Ans. Northeastern’s Computer Science programme is ranked #98 in THE 2026 and #51-75 in ARWU GRAS 2025, and #38 in Collegedunia Study Abroad USA 2026. All three sources place it inside the global top 100 or US top 50, making CS the subject where Northeastern’s rank significantly exceeds its overall university position.

Ques. How is Northeastern University ranked for business and MBA?

Ans. The D’Amore-McKim School of Business is ranked #11 in ARWU GRAS Business Administration 2025, #71 in QS Global Full-time MBA in United States 2026 and #41 in QS Masters in Supply Chain Management 2026. The ARWU #11 placement is the single highest subject rank Northeastern carries across any body, sitting more than 370 positions above its overall QS rank.

Ques. What is Northeastern University’s ranking for Indian students on Collegedunia?

Ans. Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026 ranks Northeastern University at #228 globally and #94 in USA. USA-specific subject cuts place Computer Science at #38, Law at #41 and Engineering at #45, all inside the US top 50 for Indian-applicant relevance.