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Colleges / Northeastern University

Northeastern University

Boston, MA 4-Year Private
Acceptance Rate18%
Acceptance Rate18%

Northeastern Tuition Information

In 2022, tuition for full-time students at Northeastern University was $59,100 a year.

In 2022, tuition increased 4.6%–from $56,500 the prior year. On average, colleges raise tuition about 3% each year.

If these numbers feel scary, remember, the total cost of tuition isn't the final cost for attending college. Many students pay much less than the total tuition after grants, scholarships, and tuition discounts are applied. And, student loans can make the amount you do have to pay for college feel more doable until after graduation.

In-state vs. Out-of-state Tuition at Northeastern University

Northeastern University is a private, nonprofit institution, which means it has the same tuition for students from Massachusetts as it does for students who live in other states.

Public colleges and universities receive funding from the state government. Public, state schools can offer lower tuition for students who meet the requirements for in-state residency.

Attending a college where you are eligible for in-state tuition can save significant money on the total cost of attending college. Take the time to verify your state's rules for in-state residency. Each state has different requirements to qualify as in-state resident. In many states, students must have lived in the state for 12 months before starting school to qualify for in-state tuition. There may be additional requirements as well, depending on where you live.

Explore other Massachusetts colleges

Tuition for International Students at Northeastern University

Tuition at Northeastern is the same for all students.

Students from outside of the U.S. usually do not qualify for for federal financial aid, but should research private or Northeastern-specific aid and scholarships.


Northeastern University Room, Board, Fees, and More


Tuition is not the only cost of attending college; room and board, books, transportation and fees are also costs it consider when budgeting for college. Let's take a look at what impacts these costs, and what to expect at Northeastern.

House and Food Costs at Northeastern

Housing and campus dining at Northeastern is $18,440 a year. This number includes the cost of living in dorms or other on-campus housing, plus a meal plan that allows you to eat in the Northeastern's on-campus cafeterias and dining halls. Students who live off campus but would like to be able to eat in the campus dining can choose to be on a meal plan. The cost of a mean plan, or board-only, is $9,570.

Meal-plan costs can depend on how many meals are included in the plan you choose.

How Much Do Books Cost at Northeastern?

First-year students are sometimes surprised by how much books and supplies cost–and not in a good way. The actual cost of books and supplies depends on the courses you take and the materials required. To save money, many students choose to use books from the library or buy books from students who have already taken the course.

Yearly Fees

The majority of colleges also have fees to offsets cost associated with maintaining facilties, like the library, gym and computer labs.

Keep in mind, there could also be additional fees associated with participating in special activities, like Greek Life, or playing on an intramural sports team. Many schools offer resources for students with financial need to find ways to lower or eliminate these fees.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Transportation costs at Northeastern

The total cost of getting around in college can really vary. Will you drive, fly, or take public transportation to school? Will you need to pay to park on-campus? Is the campus small enough that you can easily walk from class-to-class?? Do you own a car, or are you planning to use public transportation? All of these factors can make a big difference in your transportation budget. At Northeastern, freshman are allowed to park on campus.

Where are a college is located can impact transportation costs. Small, rural schools may be easier to get around, but the cost of getting to campus may be higher. On the flip side, getting around in an urban area might be costly, but there may be more trains, busses and low-cost flight options to actually get to school. Northeastern Universityis in a urban setting in Massachusetts, near Boston.

Other Costs

When you're planning for college, don’t forget to take into account personal expenses, like going out to eat or see shows, furnishing your living space, and things like haircuts, clothes and, yes, even toilet paper and shampoo.


Total Tuition and Expenses at Northeastern University


Now, let’s look at the breakdown of all expenses, to get a better idea of what is really costs to go to Northeastern.

How Much Does Northeastern Cost?

What will the cost of attending Northeastern be? Here is a breakdown of tuition and expenses.

2022 Total Tuition and Expenses
Tuition $59,100
Room and Board $18,440
Board Only $7,910
Other expenses $900

The total estimated cost will vary depending on whether you are going to live on-campus or off-campus.

Total Estimated Costs
On-Campus $80,532
Off-Campus $69,102

The breakdowns above provide a good estimate of the total cost of attendance before financial aid and scholarships. Tuition and fees may vary depending on program, course level, location, and more.


Financial Aid at Northeastern University


In 2022, 6,722 of the 20,337 undergrads enrolled received financial aid. Northeastern meets 87.6% of the demonstrated financial need for undergraduates.

The average financial aid package for a full-time, first-year student is around $53,063 a year. Around 49.7% of Northeastern undergrads take out student loans to cover any remaining costs. Northeastern graduates who have student loans graduate with an average of $30,624 of student loan debt.

The average debt for each loan type varies.

Average Debt By Loan Type
Federal Loans $23,442
Private Loans $41,160
Most Common Loans for Northeastern Students
Federal Loans 48.93%
Private loans 8.72%

Most students take out institutional or government loans, because they tend to have lower interest rates and more flexible repayment options than private loans. Loans from the federal government can be subsidized or unsubsidized. Subsidized loans do not accrue interest during school, while unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest at the time the loan is issued. If students do no qualify for enough federal loans to cover the cost of tuition, some take out private loans. Parents can also take out ParentPLUS loans, which are government loans for parents who are helping their children pay for college.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) helps colleges determine how much financial need students and their familes have, so they can offer a financial aid package that meets, or come close to meeting, their need. For more information on Northeastern financial aid, keep reading, or visit their financial aid website.

Scholarships at Northeastern University

Some students may receive grants and scholarships to help pay for college. Unlike loans, scholarships and grants do not have to be paid back.

In 2022, Northeastern awarded 6,583 need-based scholarships to students, giving away total of $256.2 million to help students with financial need cover the cost of school. An additional $109.7 million in merit-based scholarship money was awarded to students without demonstrated financial need.

Net Cost of Northeastern University

The net price of college is the actual cost of attending a school for one year. Net cost is calculated by subtracting any scholarships, grants or other aid that does not need to be paid back from the total cost. Student loans are not part of the calculation, because they need to be repaid.

Now that we have a sense of the total estimated costs for Northeastern students, we can subtract the average financial aid package to find the estimated net cost. Net cost can vary depending on a students’ need and the financial aid award received.

When considering whether a school fits your budget, it is important to consider the estimated net cost, not just the sticker price of tuition. Often, schools with the highest tuition also offer the most generous aid packages, so estimate your net cost before eliminating a school because it does fit your budget.

The average amount of financial aid received by a full-time first year student with demonstrated need at Northeastern was $53,063 in 2022. By substracting the average financial aid package from the estimated costs, we get a number that may make the cost of Northeastern seem more manageable.

Estimated Net Cost for Full-Time Students
On-Campus $27,469
Off-Campus $16,039

What will attending Northeastern really cost you? The answer depends on several factors.

As of 2011, colleges are required to have a net price calculator on their website to help prospective students and their families make more informed decisions about the actual cost of attending that school, based on their financial situation. You can find the Northeastern's net cost calculator on their website.

Northeastern University Tuition Payment Plans

Some students choose to use payment plans to make the cost of tuition fit more comfortably in their budget.

Students cannot pay tuition in installments. Contact the financial aid office to verify this and discuss options.

Does Northeastern Offer Tuition Waivers?

Schools sometimes offer tuition waivers to certain groups, to reduce the total cost of attendance. Some schools offer tuition waivers for faculty, staff, and their families , underrepresented students, or military students. Even with a tuition waiver, other expenses and fees are the responsibility of the student.

Check the financial aid website for more information on payment plans and tuition waivers.


Learn More About Northeastern University


To learn more about Northeastern, choose from the options below:

Overview

Student Life

Academics

Admissions

Visit the College Confidential forums to join the conversation about Northeastern

Northeastern Tuition & Fees

Tuition & Fees

$76,402

In State

$76,402

Out-of-State
Cost Breakdown
In State
Out-of-State
State Tuition
$56,500
$56,500
Fees
$1,092
$1,092
Housing
$17,810
$17,810
Books
$1,000
$1,000

Northeastern Financial Aid

Students Who Receive Need-Based Aid

33%

Average Financial Aid Package

$41,667

Data Source: IPEDs and Peterson's Databases © 2022 Peterson's LLC All rights reserved

Quick Facts

Total Enrollment

33,676

Campus Setting

Urban

Acceptance Rate

18%

Tuition and Fees

In State

$57,592

Out-of-State

$57,592

Fall Freshmen
Application Deadline

Jan 1
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