Is Northeastern University a good school?
If you are considering attending Northeastern University, I wrote this article to provide you with an accurate and comprehensive perspective on what the university offers and how it can benefit you. Northeastern University is a private research institution in Boston, Massachusetts. The school was founded in 1898 and offers undergraduate and graduate programs on its main campus and other campuses spread across the United States and Canada. I will be showing you five (5) major merits of Northeastern University that make it a good school and as usual, highlight a couple of issues I found out about the school that may not make it the perfect fit for you.
Without further ado, let’s get into the main deal of the day.
Is Northeastern University a Good School?
Northeastern University is a good school that is reckoned for its co-op program, great engineering programs, awesome teaching staff, state-of-the-art facilities, and incredible environment. The school is ranked #44 by the U.S. News out of 443 National Universities and #388 by QS in World Universities ranking. Located in Boston, Northeastern University offers a unique learning experience for students but there are other aspects of the school that are not so great such as its undue competitive environment and the zero work opportunities within the college.
To get a better understanding of the pros and cons of attending Northeastern University, I have provided a breakdown of each and divided them into two sections so that you can consider them carefully and make an informed decision.
Pros of Northeastern University
The following are some of the good points about Northeastern University that I discovered when I conducted my research to draft this article.
Co-op Programs
Cooperative education (co-op) is a program that aims to balance theoretical knowledge shared in classrooms with practical, hands-on experience for students before they graduate. The program is usually seen in research universities where students take a year to work in an institution or organization similar to where they would be working when they graduate. Through the co-op program, students can switch between their academic studies with full-time employment, gaining practical experience in their field of study.
Northeastern University is one of the first universities in the United States to start these sorts of programs. Other research universities have followed this trend but the co-op program at Northeastern University continues to be one of the most solid co-op programs in the United States. The co-op program opportunity is not like the normal summer internship most universities offer their students. When you do well at a co-op employer’s place, they often want to retain you. I have seen and heard about a couple of persons whose co-op employers offered them jobs after their graduation.
This is a great opportunity to increase your chances of landing jobs immediately after you are done with university. If your employer does not retain you, the experience gotten can be added to your CV which will improve your chances of getting a better job. Either way, the co-op program is an excellent initiative and you can get the best co-op program at Northeastern University.
Great Engineering Programs
When it comes to courses and subjects, Northeastern University has its horn in the lines of engineering. Northeastern University engineering program is ranked #33 in the list of best engineering schools in the United States by the U.S. News. The engineering programs at Northeastern University are reckoned as one of the best in the country and position NEU as one of the best R1 research and experiential university in Boston. At Northeastern University, some of the engineering programs that the school excels in include biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, computer engineering, and mechanical engineering to mention but a few.
By a rough estimate of NEU alumni doing well today, a significant percentage graduated from its College of Engineering. The school is driven towards providing its students with multidisciplinary and experiential learning options to help them expand their window of knowledge, fuel innovation, and enable them to create an educational journey that meets their goals. If you are looking for a low-budget alternative to MIT, Harvard, and Yale in terms of engineering, then I will advise you to apply to Northeastern University.
Awesome Teaching Staff
If there is one thing every student and parent want is a school where the teaching staff is really concerned about their students. Although Northeastern University is a research university which means a good number of its teaching staff are trying to complete one research or the other, they still give attention to students, ensuring the best quality of education is provided.
Many of the students, past and present, that I interviewed spoke well of the school’s teaching staff. If you want a school where the professors and lecturers want the best for you, then you should go to NEU.
Incredible Environment and Facilities
Northeastern University is located in Boston. If you have not been to Boston before you may not understand how beautiful the city is. Boston has a beautiful and inviting climate. The weather in the city is generally cool (you would not like to be in the city for winter, as it gets really freezing). Boston also has a rich heritage hosting the first subway, chocolate factory, lighthouse, public park, and Dunkin Donuts in America. You would love to see ancient and modern Boston, I assure you.
Inside Northeastern University is superb. The school has state-of-the-art facilities to help students enjoy the best learning experience while on campus. Northeastern University has a state-of-the-art gym which is the biggest gym in all of Boston. The school’s library is also top-notch. There is no gainsaying that NEU has all the facilities its students need to become innovative professionals in whatever career path they choose.
Having seen the pros of the university, let’s check out the cons of attending Northeastern University.
Cons of Northeastern University
Exorbitant Tuition Fees
The average tuition fee at a public university in the United States is $10,423 for in-state students and $22,953 for out-of-state students as per a 2022-2023 study by U.S. News. Then for private universities, the tuition fee is an average of $39,723. Northeastern University’s tuition fee is $57, 592 which is about $18,000 more than the average tuition fee for private universities in the United States. For a school between #30 to #35 in school rankings, that tuition fee is quite exorbitant.
Difficulty Getting On-Campus Jobs
It can be difficult to get an on-campus job at NEU but this difficulty is only experienced by new intakes. During your first year at the school, you may not land an on-campus job. However, I have seen some people get jobs between their first 6-8 months after gaining admission to the school. But generally, there is a level of difficulty with getting jobs on-campus at NEU when you newly arrive.
Competitive Environment
Boston is home to some of the most prestigious universities in the country. When you talk about universities in Boston, we mention the likes of Harvard University, Tufts University, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Northeastern University is the lowest in rank on the list of top universities in Boston when compared to the aforementioned schools. And sadly, these schools are within a 3-mile radius from NEU which means students of NEU would see and meet students of the more high-profile universities. What that environment does is create a competitive atmosphere and often, NEU students are at the lower end of the spectrum.
Even though Boston is home to tens of universities, the competition between Harvard, Tufts, MIT, and NEU is intriguing and it does not favor anyone to be at NEU.
Northeastern University Acceptance Rate
If you want to go to Northeastern University, after considering some of the pros and cons, the next important step is to find out its acceptance rate. The current Northeastern University acceptance rate is 6.7% which indicates that the school is very competitive and gaining admission will require a lot of grit, good grades, and high test scores. For the 2022/2023 academic session, Northeastern University received 90,989 applications and accepted only 6,179.
Several sources claim the Northeastern University acceptance rate is 20.5% while others claim it is 9.3%. Those were rates for previous admission years. The current NEU acceptance rate is 6.7%.
Northeastern University Tuition
The Northeastern University tuition as approved by the school’s board of trustees for the 2022/2023 academic session is $29, 550 per term. For Summer I and Summer II sessions, the tuition fee is $14, 775. For a breakdown of Northeastern University tuition, please visit https://studentfinance.northeastern.edu/billing-payments/tuition-and-fees/.
Northeastern University World Ranking
Rankings may not be a deterministic factor in deciding whether Northeastern University is a good school. However, they echo a great deal of commendation for the school if it is highly placed. And considering that, the factors used in determining schools’ rankings are some of the things investors, employers, and Fortune 500 companies look out for when interviewing applicants makes rankings something to bother about. The table below provides a breakdown of Northeastern University World Ranking for 2022:
| SOURCE | CATEGORY | RANK |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. News | Best Global Universities | #176 |
| QS | World Universities Rankings | #388 |
| Shanghai Jiao Tong University | Academic Ranking of World Universities | #201 |
| Times Higher Education | World University Ranking for 2023 | #168 |
| CWUR.org | World University Rankings | #321 |
What is Northeastern University Known For?
Northeastern University is known for the following:
- A comprehensive engineering program
- Experiential learning through co-op programs
- Interdisciplinary research
- Sound academic environment
To wrap up this article on Is Northeastern University a good school, I have compiled some frequently asked questions and provided answers to each of them.
FAQs
Is Northeastern University a Good Business School?
The Northeastern University D’Amore McKim School of Business is one of the best in the country. Although it is ranked #85 among the best business schools in the country, it offers a competitive advantage and security of landing a job after graduation thanks to its co-op opportunities. Students of the Northeastern University business school can work in places and businesses that reflect what they are studying during their time at the school. Interestingly, the alumni of the school donate heavily to the enhancement of the structures and staff at the D’Amore McKim School of Business at NEU.
Is Northeastern University Prestigious?
Northeastern University is a prestigious college. There are three key points that make a school prestigious. These include receiving more applications than they can accept, training the brightest minds, and having the best of faculties and equipment. Northeastern University has all of these. The school had over 90,000 applicants during the admission window in 2022 but could only accept 6,000. Its faculties, buildings, and equipment are state-of-the-art. Hence, Northeastern University is a prestigious college.
Does Northeastern University have a Good Engineering Program?
Northeastern University has a good engineering program. The school occupies position #33 for the best engineering universities in the United States. It has about six engineering courses that are well-recognized in the country for their exceptional and comprehensive approach to building and grooming cutting-edge engineers. At Northeastern University, computer engineering, biomedical engineering, chemical engineering, civil engineering, and mechanical engineering, to mention a few are some of the top-rated engineering courses.
Is Northeastern University an Ivy League?
No. Northeastern University is not in the Ivy League. The Ivy League includes Princeton University, Harvard University, Yale University, University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth College, Brown University, Cornell University, and Columbia University. Northeastern University is not a member of the Ivy League.
Is Northeastern University a Top University?
Northeastern University is one of the top universities in the United States for its co-op program and engineering courses. If you are looking for an affordable option to study engineering in Boston, then you can apply to Northeastern University. Being the first school to begin co-op programs, Northeastern University boasts a comprehensive program that students readily benefit from.
What is Northeastern University Famous For?
Northeastern University is famous for its co-op program which allows students to gain practical, hands-on experience related to their course of study. The school allows its students to work in places, institutions, and organizations where they can learn first-hand what their chosen profession entails. Also, Northeastern University is famous for having the biggest gym in Boston.
Is it Harder to Get into Boston University than Northeastern?
Judging by the acceptance rate of both schools, it is harder to get into Northeastern University than Boston University. The acceptance rate at Boston University is 20% while Northeastern University acceptance rate is 6.7%. Both schools are very selective about their admission process but Northeastern University is more strict than Boston University.
Is Northeastern a Party School?
Northeastern is not a party school. Unlike most top-tier universities in the United States, Northeastern University records fewer parties on campus. Students do not totally miss out on social living as Boston is a crazy city to live in.
Is Northeastern D1?
Yes. Northeastern is a D1 college. The university’s sports team, the Northeastern Huskies, compete in NCAA Division I as members of the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) in 18 varsity sports.
ALSO READ: Is Vanderbilt a Good School? | (Pros and Cons of Vanderbilt University)
Final Thoughts on Is Northeastern University a Good School
Northeastern University is one of the most prestigious schools in the United States. It is reckoned for its co-op programs, engineering courses, awesome teaching staff, incredible environment, and state-of-the-art facilities. The co-op program by Northeastern University makes it possible for students to land jobs after school either by securing employment at the places where they did their co-op program or benefiting from a work experience in their CV.
However, the school has a tuition fee that is above the average for a private university in the United States. Aside from the exorbitant tuition at Northeastern University, the school is flawed by the competitive atmosphere it has with top schools like BU, MIT, and Harvard surrounding it. If you would like to apply to Northeastern University, you had better be pursuing a career in engineering and nursing as other programs by the school are not highly rated.