Northeastern University offers programs in engineering, business, humanities, and health sciences, catering to various career paths.
Rankings like THE evaluate institutions based on factors like academic reputation and faculty quality, helping you make an informed decision about your education.
Northeastern University Rankings 2024-25
Northeastern University’s rankings in QS, U.S. News and THE indicate its innovative teaching methods and experiential learning opportunities, suitable for students seeking practical, career-oriented education.
Here’s an overview of the rankings of colleges in Northeastern University.
College Name
Ranking Body
Specific Rankings
College and Engineering
U.S. News
38
D’Amore-McKim School of Business
QS
29
Bouvé College of Health Sciences
Times Higher Education
176-200
School of Law
U.S. News
68
Life Sciences
Times Higher Education
201-250
Here’s a look at the progress Northeastern University has made over the years in various rankings.
Ranking Agency
2025 Global Rank
2024 Global Rank
2023 Global Rank
QS World University Rankings
396
375
388
Times Higher Education (THE)
201-250
201-250
168
US News & World Report
54
NA
194
The table above provides an overview of the top-performing colleges at Northeastern University. Now, let’s take a closer look at the performance of various subjects across different rankings.
Subject-Wise Ranking of Northeastern University
Northeastern University’s rankings can vary based on criteria such as research output, teaching quality, and student performance, which are weighted differently in each ranking system.
Here’s a breakdown of Northeastern University’s subject rankings across three major ranking systems.
QS Rankings
QS rankings consider criteria such as academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty/student ratio, research impact, and international diversity.
The QS rankings reflect Northeastern’s strengths in business and engineering, with business ranked in the top 30 globally. Here’s the ranking of various subjects based on QS ranking.
Subject
Ranking 2025
Ranking 2024
Ranking 2023
Business
29
151
141
Engineering
175
264
265
Life Sciences
451-500
301
301
Medicine
301-350
201
151
Humanities
301-330
301
NA
THE Rankings
The Times Higher Education (THE) rankings are based on criteria like teaching quality, research influence, international outlook, and industry income.
The ranking under THE reflects Northeastern University's achievements in Law. Here’s how different subjects at Northeastern University rank based on THE rankings.
Subject
Ranking 2025
Ranking 2024
Ranking 2023
Business
151-175
151
201
Engineering
151-175
151
151
Medicine
176-200
176
126
Law
90
90
98
Humanities
251-300
251
251
U.S. News Rankings
Criteria such as academic reputation, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, and research output help in deciding the U.S. News rankings.
The U.S. New ranking shows Northeastern University’s reputation in fields such as medicine and Engineering. Here’s how different subjects at Northeastern University rank based on U.S. News rankings.
Subject
Ranking 2025
Ranking 2024
Ranking 2023
Business
82
81
85
Engineering
38
29-43 (depending on course)
30-48 (depending on course)
Medicine
18
78
86
Law
68
71
73
Humanities
46
NA
NA
The ranking of Northeastern University’s subjects reflects the quality of specific fields, helping students choose colleges based on their desired area of study. Now, let’s explore the university’s achievements in both academic and non-academic domains.
Northeastern University Campus: Excellence and Achievements
Apart from academic excellence, Northeastern University offers diverse student organizations, cultural events, and global engagement opportunities.
Here’s a breakdown of the achievements of Northeastern University.
Academic Excellence and National Recognition
Academic honors like the Huntington Award, Experiential Learning Award, and Compass Award highlight the university's focus on student achievement and their ability to apply knowledge effectively.
Here’s a look at its achievements in academics.
Category
Recognition
Huntington 100
Six students from CPS were inducted into the Huntington 100 for 2023.
Huntington 100 recognizes students for their service, leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship, global engagement, and impact on the campus community.
Compass Award
John Ruggieri-Lam was a winner of the Compass Award, which honors students showing leadership, academic integrity, volunteerism, and commitment to Northeastern.
Experiential Learning Awards
University students who integrated the classroom with real-world projects in three main categories, Co-op Excellence, XN Excellence, and Humanics, were given this prestigious award.
Community and Lifestyle Recognitions
Northeastern University invests in community development initiatives, such as supporting small businesses and offering scholarships, as part of its community engagement efforts.
Here are the contributions of Northeastern University to community development.
Category
Recognition
Transforming the Columbus Avenue Corridor
Northeastern University has invested more than USD 500 million to transform the Columbus Avenue Corridor. This includes USD 102 million to completely renovate and maintain the William E. Carter Playground for the next 30 years.
Full–tuition scholarships
Northeastern invests USD 13.5 million in full–tuition scholarships for Boston Public Schools students and other Boston–area residents.
Community Service
Northeastern's Center for Community Service has partnered with nearly 400 nonprofits, schools, and other organizations to meet local community needs. The university students have contributed an estimated USD 8 million over 280,000 service hours through community service programs.
Cultural and Creative Excellence
Cultural activities at Northeastern University focus on celebrating inclusivity and diversity. Events like Halloween create a sense of belonging for students from marginalized groups, creating an environment where all students feel valued and included.
Here are the cultural achievements at Northeastern University.
Category
Recognition
Diwali 2024
Bringing together students from diverse backgrounds to honor Indian culture and traditions.
Game Nights
Organized regularly to promote social engagement, creativity, and teamwork among students.
Pride Parade
Students participated in the annual Pride Parade, demonstrating its commitment to diversity, inclusion, and LGBTQ+ rights.
Halloween
Elaborate campus celebrations with creative costume contests and themed events, fostering a fun and inclusive atmosphere.
In addition to academic excellence, Northeastern University students actively contribute to society by creating positive change through a variety of social events.
Now, let’s explore other popular rankings and see how Northeastern University performs in them.
Miscellaneous Ranking 2025
In addition to traditional sources like QS Rankings, platforms such as Studyportals and Forbes America's Top Colleges can be used to track university performance.
Here’s the performance of Northeastern University in different rankings.
Ranking Description
Ranking
Studyportals University Meta Ranking
251
Forbes America's Top Colleges
73
Academic Ranking of World Universities
201-300
These alternative rankings also consider criteria such as investment, alumni success, and student debt to rank colleges, making them a great source for a more holistic perspective.
Now, let’s explore the unique features of Northeastern University.
Unique USPs of Northeastern University
Northeastern University’s innovative offers, such as a co-op program and flexible learning options, make it stand out from its competitors.
Here are the unique features of Northeastern University.
USP
Description
Co-Op Program
Combines professional work experience with academic study. Students can work for up to 18 months with leading global companies across industries like technology, engineering, business, and healthcare.
Academic Excellence Across Multiple Disciplines
The university is known for its high-impact STEM programs and business education. It offers programs in a wide variety of disciplines, including engineering, business, life science, humanities, and health sciences.
Diverse Community
Students from over 5 states and 140 countries can engage with peers from diverse backgrounds, improving global perspectives.
Strong Industry Connections
Major companies such as Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Goldman Sachs hire from Northeastern University.
Flexible Learning Models
Students can choose flexible learning models like online programs, global learning experiences, and accelerated degrees.
Now that you've explored the unique features of Northeastern University, such as flexible learning, let’s check out popular ranking methodologies, such as QS and THE.
Ranking Methodologies
QS, Times Higher Education (THE), and U.S. News & World Report are the leading university ranking systems that have become benchmarks for assessing university performance. Each ranking focuses on aspects such as academic reputation, research quality, and global outlook to gauge the performance of universities.
Here’s a detailed look at the criteria used for ranking universities.
QS World University Rankings
The QS ranking emphasizes academic and employer reputation, obtained from surveys of thousands of academic experts and employers worldwide. It also gives importance to how the global academic community and potential employers look at the university.
Here are the criteria used in QS World University Rankings.
Focus Area
Indicators
Academic Reputation
Survey responses from over 100,000 academics worldwide on the quality of the university.
Employer Reputation
A survey of employers to assess the employability of graduates from universities.
Faculty-to-Student Ratio
Measures the number of academic staff relative to the number of students.
International Diversity
The ratio of international students and faculty to total student and staff numbers.
Research Quality
Citations per faculty, indicating the impact and quality of academic research.
Global Impact
Analyzing the university’s global engagement, including international collaboration.
The Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings focus on research impact and teaching quality. It also emphasizes international diversity and industry income, assessing how well universities collaborate with industries and global academic networks.
Here are the criteria used by THE rankings.
Focus Area
Indicators
Teaching
Reputation survey
Staff-to-student ratio
Doctorates awarded per undergraduate
Institutional income.
Research
Research reputation survey
Research income
Research productivity.
Citations
Number of citations in academic papers showing research impact.
International Diversity
International staff ratio
International student ratio
International co-authorship.
Industry Income
Income generated from industry collaborations indicates how well universities apply research to industry needs.
U.S. News and World Report Rankings
This indicator used a special criteria of social mobility, which measures how well universities support low-income students in graduating and finding employment.
Here are the criteria used in U.S. News and World Report Rankings
Focus Area
Indicators
Academic Reputation
Survey responses from academic peers evaluating the quality of programs.
Global Research Reputation
Survey responses from academic peers on the university's research output.
Faculty Resources
Average faculty salary, the number of full-time faculty, and the faculty-student ratio.
Student Outcomes
Graduation and retention rates, employment outcomes, and average alumni salaries.
Social Mobility
Graduation rates of Pell Grant recipients compared to other students.
Financial Resources
University spending per student.
Graduate Employability
Employment rate and job market success for graduates, alumni outcomes.
International Diversity
The percentage of international students and faculty in the university indicates global engagement.
The above rankings reflect how well a university is positioned to offer quality education and outcomes to students, using indicators like employability and industry applications.
Now, let’s explore why Northeastern University should be your top choice for education.
Why Northeastern University is the Smart Choice for Your Education
Northeastern University provides a strategic pathway that combines affordability, academic excellence, and a seamless global transition, addressing key concerns for students.
Here’s why Northeastern University must be your choice for education.
Pathway to Top Colleges Northeastern allows you to transfer to their U.S. campus after completing the first year in India. By maintaining a strong GPA and securing a Duolingo score of 120, you can get direct entry to one of the top universities, avoiding the stress of competitive admissions later.
Significant Cost Savings By completing your first year in India, you can save up to INR 50 lakh in tuition and living expenses, making a world-class education at Northeastern much more accessible.
Earn Credits Locally Northeastern’s program allows you to complete up to 30 credits in India out of the total 120 required for your degree. This means you’ll stay on track for graduation while preparing for a smooth transition to elite U.S. campuses.
Personalized Guidance upGrad offers personalized support every step of the way, from helping you choose the right courses and plan your transfer to guiding visas and documentation.
Convenient Transition Starting your education in India offers a low-risk, familiar environment, and with credits earned locally, you’ll be ready to join Northeastern’s U.S. campus. Your transition will be smooth as you’re already equipped with foundational knowledge to excel.
Conclusion
Ranked within the top 100 in the U.S. News Rankings, Northeastern University stands out for its faculty, diverse environment, and strong focus on employability.
upGrad’s study abroad program simplifies the complex admissions processes, offering a structured path to study in this top-tier education institution.
Yes, Northeastern University is considered prestigious, consistently ranked among the top universities in the U.S. for its academic excellence, innovative research, and strong focus on experiential learning.
Is Northeastern University an Ivy League?
No, Northeastern University is not an Ivy League school, but it is often considered a top-tier university due to its academic reputation.
What GPA is needed to get into Northeastern University?
Although a GPA of around 4.0 is generally expected, the university also considers other factors like standardized test scores, extracurriculars, and essays.
Is Northeastern University 100% need met?
Northeastern University seeks to meet the financial needs of all admitted students, but the availability of financial aid depends on each student's specific situation.
Is the GRE needed for Northeastern University?
The GRE is not required for most programs at Northeastern University, but some graduate programs may ask for it.
Is GMAT required for Northeastern University?
The GMAT is needed for admission to Northeastern’s MBA program and some other business-related graduate programs, but not for undergraduate admissions.
Does Northeastern University give a fee waiver?
Yes, Northeastern offers application fee waivers for eligible students, usually based on financial need or special circumstances.
Does Northeastern University give full scholarships?
Northeastern offers merit-based scholarships and some need-based aid, though full scholarships are limited and highly competitive.
Does Northeastern University offer interviews?
Northeastern University offers optional interviews for applicants, but they are not a compulsory part of the admissions process.
Which companies hire from Northeastern University?
Top companies hiring from the university, including Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Goldman Sachs, and Johnson & Johnson.
Which course is best for Northeastern University?
Northeastern is renowned for its co-op programs in fields like engineering, computer science, business, and health sciences.
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