Is Northeastern test optional?

Yes. You can apply without a score. A common rule is to send it if it's at or above 1490 and hold it if it's under.

What is Northeastern's acceptance rate?

5.2% of applicants were admitted in 2024–25, according to the college's Common Data Set or, where that's missing, IPEDS, the federal college survey. In fall 2024, 5,133 of 98,425 applicants were admitted. Applications rose 95%, from 50,523 in 2015 to 98,425 in 2024, and Northeastern's admit rate went from 28% to 5.2%.

What ACT score do you need for Northeastern?

First-year students who sent an ACT scored 33–35, with a median of 34. On the official ACT–SAT concordance, their SAT range of 1450–1520 works out to about 33–34.

Does applying early decision help at Northeastern?

43% of early decision applicants were admitted (1,492 of 3,466), against 5.2% of all applicants. Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the real edge is smaller than the gap.

All colleges

What SAT score do you need for Northeastern? (Middle 50%: 1450–1520)

First-year students at Northeastern who sent an SAT scored 1450–1520, with a median of 1490 (Common Data Set 2024–25). Northeastern admits 5.2% of applicants and is test optional.

Northeastern University · Boston, MA

Where your score lands at Northeastern

First-year students who sent an SAT: 1450–1520, median 1490

Your score

Middle 50% of admitted students Median

Enter your SAT or ACT to see which tier Northeastern is for you and whether to send your score.

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Northeastern by the numbers

Admit rate: 5.2%
Middle 50% SAT: 1450–1520
Median SAT: 1490
About on the ACT: 33–34

Test optional · checked Nov 9, 2026 · Northeastern admissions · SAT range from the Common Data Set, 2024–25; admit rate from it or IPEDS

Northeastern admit rate over 10 years

Applications rose 95%, from 50,523 in 2015 to 98,425 in 2024, and Northeastern's admit rate went from 28% to 5.2%.

28%
5.2%

Show the numbers

Fall	Applied	Admitted	Admit rate
2024	98,425	5,133	5.2%
2023	96,631	5,459	5.6%
2022	91,000	6,191	6.8%
2021	75,244	13,829	18%
2020	64,459	13,199	20%
2019	62,263	11,240	18%
2018	62,272	12,042	19%
2017	54,209	14,876	27%
2016	51,063	14,747	29%
2015	50,523	14,388	28%

In fall 2024, 2,759 of the 5,133 admitted students enrolled. Applicants and admits from IPEDS, the federal college survey, by fall of entry.

What each SAT score means at Northeastern

Which tier your score puts them in, and whether it's worth sending.

Your SATTierSend it?

Under 1490Far reachHold
1490–1510Far reachSend
1520 and upReachSend

1300135014001450150015501600

Tiers here use only your SAT and their admit rate. Essays, activities and recommendations still decide most admissions at selective colleges.

Northeastern SAT sections, ACT and class rank

Scores of enrolled first-year students who sent one, by percentile.

Test	25th	Median	75th
SAT Math	730	760	780
SAT Reading and Writing	710	730	760
SAT total	1450	1490	1520
ACT composite	33	34	35

Common Data Set 2024–25.

Top 10% of their class: 69%; of new students who reported a rank

Northeastern early decision

Early decision

1,492 of 3,466 early decision applicants were admitted.

Early decision43%
All applicants5.2%

Early pools often include recruited athletes and other strong applicants, so the gap overstates how much applying early helps on its own.

Common Data Set 2024–25.

Northeastern cost and outcomes

What students pay after grants, how many finish, and what they earn.

Average net price: $30,915; per year, after grants
Graduate in 6 years: 91%
Median earnings: $92,538; 10 years after starting
Undergraduates: 24,663

College Scorecard, 2022–23, from the US Department of Education. Net price averages federal-aid students across family incomes.

Colleges like Northeastern

Similar SAT ranges and admit rates.

Sources

Northeastern Common Data Set 2024–25
SAT and ACT ranges, early decision, waitlist, GPA and class rank, as the college reported them.
College Navigator (IPEDS)
Applications, admissions and enrollment by year, from the federal college survey.
College Scorecard
Net price, graduation rate and earnings, from the US Department of Education.
Northeastern admissions
Test policy for 2026–27, checked Nov 9, 2026.
Northeastern website
Northeastern University

Updated Nov 9, 2026. Spot a number that's off? Email support@tryashore.com and we'll check it against the source.

Questions

Still have a question? support@tryashore.com

There's no cutoff. The middle 50% of first-year students who sent an SAT scored 1450–1520, and the median was 1490. At 1490 or higher you're above half of them. Northeastern admits 5.2% of applicants, so a top score keeps you in the running but doesn't decide it.

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SAT Math · 1 of 5

Calculator allowed

A jacket's price is increased by 20% and then the new price is decreased by 20%. The final price is what percent of the original price?

A $96\%$
B $100\%$
C $104\%$
D $80\%$