Northeastern University acceptance rate, scores and deadlines
Source: Common Data Set 2025–26 · deadlines from Northeastern's admissions site.
Acceptance rate
Northeastern acceptance rate by year
5,920 of 105,256 applicants admitted for Fall 2025, against 5.2% for Fall 2024.
Show the numbers
| Entering class | Applied | Admitted | Rate | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2025 | 105,256 | 5,920 | 5.6% | Common Data Set |
| Fall 2024 | 98,425 | 5,133 | 5.2% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2023 | 96,631 | 5,459 | 5.7% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2022 | 91,000 | 6,191 | 6.8% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2021 | 75,244 | 13,829 | 18.4% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2020 | 64,459 | 13,199 | 20.5% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2019 | 62,263 | 11,240 | 18.1% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2018 | 62,272 | 12,042 | 19.3% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2017 | 54,209 | 14,876 | 27.4% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2016 | 51,063 | 14,747 | 28.9% | IPEDS |
| Fall 2015 | 50,523 | 14,388 | 28.5% | IPEDS |
2026–27 applications
Northeastern deadlines for 2026–27
Apply with Common App or Coalition Application. Checked October 24, 2026 on Northeastern's admissions site. Dates can change; confirm them there before you submit.
- Early decision Apply by Decisions By January 1
- Early action Apply by Decisions By February 15
- Early decision II Apply by Decisions By March 1
- Regular decision Apply by Decisions By April 1
Early rounds
Early decision and early action at Northeastern
Early pools include recruited athletes and other special cases, so the gap overstates the boost for a typical applicant. Early decision is binding: apply only if you would enroll.
Scores and GPA
Test scores and GPA at Northeastern
Scores are for enrolled students who sent them, not for everyone admitted.
What counts
What Northeastern weighs
From section C7 of Northeastern's Common Data Set 2025–26.
Very important
- Course rigor
- GPA
- Test scores
- Recommendations
Important
- Activities
- Talent or ability
- Character
- Volunteer work
- Work experience
Considered
- Class rank
- Essays
- First-generation status
- Where you live
- Demonstrated interest
Not considered
- Interview
- Alumni relation
- State residency
- Religious affiliation
Cost
What Northeastern costs
From the College Scorecard. For your own estimate, use Northeastern's net price calculator.
Compare
Colleges with a similar acceptance rate
Close to Northeastern's 5.6%, from the same official data.
FAQ
Questions about Northeastern admissions
What is Northeastern's acceptance rate?
Northeastern admitted 5,920 of 105,256 first-year applicants for Fall 2025, an acceptance rate of 5.6%. That is up from 5.2% for Fall 2024. Source: Common Data Set 2025–26.
Is Northeastern test-optional for 2026–27?
Yes. Northeastern is test-optional for 2026–27: you can apply with or without SAT or ACT scores.
When are Northeastern's application deadlines for 2026–27?
Early decision: November 1, 2026; Early action: November 1, 2026; Early decision II: January 1, 2027; Regular decision: January 1, 2027. Check Northeastern's admissions site before you apply, as dates can change.
What SAT score do you need for Northeastern?
There is no cutoff. The middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1440–1510 on the SAT (Fall 2025), and 22% of them sent a score. A score at or above 1510 is in the top quarter of enrolled students.
Does applying early decision help at Northeastern?
For Fall 2025, Northeastern admitted 35.3% of 5,404 early decision applicants, compared with 5.6% overall. Early pools include recruited athletes and other special cases, so the gap overstates the boost for a typical applicant.
Where the numbers come from
Sources
- Northeastern University Common Data Set 2025–26
- College Scorecard (U.S. Department of Education), IPEDS admissions 2015–2024
- Northeastern first-year admissions, checked October 24, 2026
Odds are estimates from public data, shown as a range. An estimate, not a guarantee.
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