The university received 98,373 applications for fall 2024, up from 96,631 in 2023, 91,000 in 2022, 75,244 in 2021 and 64,459 in 2020. That's an increase of 33,914 applicants, in five years or 5.
Northeastern received a record number of undergraduate applications for the 2024-2025 academic year, which university officials attribute to the university's expanding global footprint and leadership in experiential learning.
Northeastern received 98,373 applications for fall 2024, up from 96,631 in 2023, 91,000 in 2022, 75,244 in 2021 and 64,459 in 2020. That's a year-over-year increase of 33,915 applicants. chief enrollment officer and senior vice president.
“The Northeastern education is unparalleled—the ability to study at a leading R1 research institution that has the ability to send students around the world to gain professional experience before they graduate,” says Dattagupta. “This unique value proposition leads to clear and measurable results for families.”
The incoming class will include about 2,600 students in Boston, Dattagupta says, as well as 475 at Northeastern's undergraduate campus in Oakland, Calif., and another 300 at the university's undergraduate campus in London.
Beginning in 2023, applicants were asked to select their preferred undergraduate campus. This year, about 18% expressed interest in London and 18% in Oakland as their first or second campus choice, with 80% indicating Boston as their primary or secondary choice.
The university has received record interest from countries such as China, India, South Korea, Brazil and Taiwan.
In the US, the most applications were received from New York, Massachusetts, California, New Jersey and Connecticut.
Advisors who recommend Northeastern
Meanwhile, guidance counselors and high school counselors are recommending Northeastern to high-achieving students and their increasingly results-focused families.
“The return on investment is huge with the many networking opportunities for students to connect with professionals and bridge what they learn in the classroom to the real world,” says Joseph Lopez, associate director of college counseling at The John Cooper School in The Woodlands . , Texas.
According to the most recent data available for measuring outcomes, 93% of Northeastern graduates are are employed full-time or in graduate school within nine months of graduation. Of those, 91% are doing work related to what they majored in at Northeastern.
“Northeastern has always impressed me with its innovative experiential learning opportunities, especially its co-op programs, as well as the opportunity for students to learn and do research in London and Oakland, California.”
Lopez had the opportunity to visit Northeastern's campus in Oakland last spring.
“I was impressed with the unique campus culture,” he says. “But, more importantly, the academic and collaborative opportunities students will have by being in the Bay Area, especially in the areas of business, software and biotech.”
In addition to Oakland, Northeastern's network of 13 campuses in the US, Canada and the UK includes Boston, London, Toronto, Vancouver, Seattle, Charlotte, Miami and Silicon Valley, as well as Arlington of Virginia. Portland, Maine; and Nahant and Burlington, Massachusetts. Undergraduate students study at the Boston, Oakland, and London campuses, while the other campuses focus on graduate-level programs and research.
Diversity of student body, academic offerings
Natalia Butler, admitted to the class of 2028, is a high school senior from Sao Paulo, Brazil, living in Ohio. He plans to study business administration at the D'Amore-McKim School of Business on the Boston campus.
Northeastern was her top choice because of its location and the diversity of its student body and academic offerings.
“The hybrid of the Boston campus being in a big city and having its own indoor space really drew me to Northeastern,” Butler says. “I enjoy how safe Boston is compared to other cities while still having an entertainment scene.”
Butler says she had never heard of combined majors — Northeastern has more than 180 — before touring the university.
She is excited about the unique opportunity to merge two seemingly unrelated fields of study—for example, philosophy and computer science—into one discipline.
“As someone who is so curiously interested in different subjects and indecisive, hearing about people who have a combined major, concentration, and multiple minors was like music to my ears,” says Butler.
Signature experiential learning programs
Northeastern's core experiential learning programs also set the university apart, Butler says. She did a marketing internship in high school last summer, which led her to pursue a business degree.
Northeastern has a network of more than 3,500 employers worldwide where students can gain work experience in full-time positions lasting up to six months.
“THE [co-op] The program was a big factor in my decision to apply to Northeastern because the real-world opportunities will only open doors for my future,” says Butler.
He also appreciates the global mobility available to Northeastern students. Students work, study and research in 149 countries and on every continent.
“Having three citizenships and a world traveler, I have grown up embracing various cultures and seek to be around others who can reciprocate the same passion,” says Butler.
Northeastern 'has something for everyone'
Like Butler, sophomore Brittney Valdez is also considering majoring together — in political science and criminal justice.
High School graduate from Brockton, Massachusetts, is currently completing an internship at an immigration law firm.
The best experiential learning opportunities in higher education drew her to Northeastern.
“I love how co-op is an opportunity to make connections and gain real-world experience in your field, as well as exposure to jobs around the world,” says Valdez.
He is also looking forward to all that the global network of campuses has to offer.
“A big thing that made Northeastern my top choice was that there is something for everyone,” says Valdez. “With the many clubs, sports and events across campus, I know I'll be able to fit in anywhere and make amazing lifelong connections.”
