Northeastern University Acceptance Rate
Boston, Massachusetts · Private not-for-profit · 4-year or above
- Applicants
- 96,631
- Admitted
- 5,459
- Yield
- 50.3%
- Test policy
- Test-optional
Latest official IPEDS 2023–24 · Updated July 2026
Acceptance rate & applications over time
Hover or tap the chart to read any year.
Over the 10 years of federal data, Northeastern University's acceptance rate has fallen from 32.2% in 2014–15 to 5.6% in 2023–24. Applications grew from 49,819 to 96,631 (+94%) over that period.
Its 5.6% rate makes Northeastern University more selective than about 99% of the 1,419 schools tracked here. Among 61 tracked Massachusetts schools, it is more selective than about 95%.
Northeastern University has been test-optional since 2022–23. Of admitted students, 50.3% enrolled (the yield rate) in 2023–24.
Full year-by-year table
| Year | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance | Enrolled |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | 49,819 | 16,052 | 32.2% | 2,944 |
| 2015–16 | 50,523 | 14,388 | 28.5% | 2,797 |
| 2016–17 | 51,063 | 14,747 | 28.9% | 2,676 |
| 2017–18 | 54,209 | 14,876 | 27.4% | 3,108 |
| 2018–19 | 62,272 | 12,042 | 19.3% | 2,746 |
| 2019–20 | 62,263 | 11,240 | 18.1% | 2,996 |
| 2020–21 | 64,459 | 13,199 | 20.5% | 3,128 |
| 2021–22 | 75,244 | 13,829 | 18.4% | 4,504 |
| 2022–23 | 91,000 | 6,191 | 6.8% | 2,519 |
| 2023–24 | 96,631 | 5,459 | 5.6% | 2,744 |
Acceptance rate by gender
| Group | Applicants | Admitted | Acceptance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Women | 54,914 | 3,251 | 5.9% |
| Men | 41,706 | 2,203 | 5.3% |
| Unknown | 11 | 5 | 45.5% |
SAT / ACT ranges & policy
Test-optional (considered if submitted).
| Test | 25th–75th percentile | % submitting |
|---|---|---|
| SAT EBRW | 710–760 | 27% |
| SAT Math | 750–790 | |
| ACT Composite | 33–35 | 8% |
How Northeastern University compares
Where this school sits among peers of similar selectivity — each dot is a school's current acceptance rate on the same scale.
Frequently asked
What is Northeastern University's acceptance rate?
Northeastern University's acceptance rate is 5.6% for 2023–24, the most recent year of federal IPEDS data (5,459 admitted of 96,631 applicants).
Is Northeastern University test optional?
Northeastern University is test-optional: SAT/ACT scores are considered if submitted but not required.
How many people apply to Northeastern University?
Northeastern University received 96,631 applications in 2023–24 and admitted 5,459.
What SAT score do you need for Northeastern University?
Admitted students at Northeastern University typically scored 710–760 on SAT Reading/Writing and 750–790 on SAT Math (middle-50% ranges).
Is Northeastern University getting harder to get into?
Northeastern University has become harder to get into: its acceptance rate went from 32.2% in 2014–15 to 5.6% in 2023–24.
How this is calculated
Acceptance rate = admitted ÷ applicants, first-time degree-seeking undergraduates, from the U.S. Department of Education's IPEDS Admissions (ADM) survey; institution details from the IPEDS Institutional Characteristics (HD) survey. Data span: 2014–15 to 2023–24. Official site: www.northeastern.edu/.