Northeastern University: First Impressions

Welcome to Northeastern, home of the Huskies!

     We recently visited Northeastern University in Boston.  With over 15,000  undergraduates and average SAT scores of admitted freshman totaling between 1850 and 2050, Northeastern is a selective, cosmopolitan school with international representation from 125 countries, as well as students from all parts of the United States.

    The school is best known for its experiential learning and co-op work programs.  All students are required to complete one or more 6-month paid work experiences, study abroad or service learning engagements during the course of their education.  The typical student participates in 2 or 3 paid co-ops over the course of a 5 year program although 4 year options are also available.  Northeastern students typically do very well in finding full time employment after graduation and are also well positioned for graduate school admission.    In comparison to some other college  tours that stressed the social and athletic aspects of the school, Northeastern emphasized the co-op program and the academic strength of its student body.  

     The school eliminated varsity football a few years ago but has very strong men’s and women’s hockey and basketball teams in addition to a number of other sports.  A well appointed athletic facility is available for students and many clubs are active on campus.

Northeastern's International Village is LEED certified

     Sandwiched onto 73 acres in Boston’s Fenway district, near the medical area, Northeastern has worked hard to create a true sense of campus.  Over the last 20 years, an extensive construction program has transformed the school’s grounds and created a pleasant and safe environment.    In addition to adding and updating a number of academic buildings, the school has added housing, including the recently completed, LEED certified  International Village.  It contains  residential space for 1,200 upper class students and the freshman honors students in a complex that includes three towers (the tallest of which is 22 stories) as well as some low rise mixed use buildings that host a range of academic programs and classrooms.   Remaining freshmen are housed in traditional double-bedded dorm rooms spread around the campus.  A network of underground tunnels links the academic buildings and provides shelter from Boston’s winter storms.

Most freshman live in standard doubles

     Freshman and sophmores are guaranteed housing but many upper classmen do end up jammed into apartments that surround the area.  With hundreds of thousands of college students invading the greater Boston area each fall there are many student rentals on the market.

     Northeastern characterizes its campus as a home base from which students can venture out to experience a range of work and enrichment opportunities.  With virtually every student rotating on and off campus over the course of their degree program the mix of kids on campus changes each semester.  To help keep the dorms full Northeastern offers some students a January start program which has them enter as first semester freshmen in the middle of the academic year.

Northeastern provides a true campus experience in the midst of the city

     The co-op programs and Northeastern’s track record for placing graduates into jobs help to justify the $49,500 annual price tag for tuition, room and board. Beyond need-based grants and loans,  the top 25 percent of admitted freshmen applicants may be considered for competitive merit scholarship awards that range from $5,000–$17,000 for the first year.  Students are not charged tuition when they are off campus on paid co-ops.    Full ride Presidential scholarships are also awarded to a select group of students.