Houston vs Northeastern - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
Houston accepts most of the applications it receives (73.9%), while Northeastern turns away the overwhelming majority (5.2%).
The share of international students differs sharply: 13.1% (Northeastern) against 5.7% (Houston).
Real money goes to international students at Northeastern ($24,539 on average), while Houston stops at $4,456.
The cheaper tuition belongs to Houston: $27,926 against $69,289, or $41,363 less a year.
The indicators describe a university as a whole, and your own course can sit a long way from that average.
Every sentence above comes from a field we hold in canonical. Where the data is missing, or the gap is small enough to be noise, the sentence simply does not appear.
EXPERT TAKE
Northeastern is the more selective of the two (5.2% vs 73.92% acceptance). Northeastern graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($93K vs $62K). Houston has lower sticker-price tuition ($27,926 vs $69,289 per year).
Both universities have complete, comparable data in canonical - the choice should come down to fit (campus culture, major, aid package) alongside the differences visible in the numbers below.
Choose Houston for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
Choose Northeastern for: higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Northeastern is more selective (5.2% vs 73.92% acceptance); Northeastern has a higher median SAT (1490 vs 1240).
Northeastern graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($93K vs $62K); Northeastern has a higher 6-year graduation rate (90.5% vs 64.6%).
Houston has lower sticker-price tuition ($27,926 vs $69,289); Northeastern offers a larger average aid package ($46,555 vs $16,450).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Houston | Northeastern |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #201-300 | #201-300 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 73.92% | 5.2% |
| Yield rate | 26.5% | 53.8% |
| Median SAT | 1240 | 1490 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.49 | - |
| Number of applications | 31,716 | 98,425 |
| International students | 5.7% | 13.1% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $62K | $93K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $39K | $62K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $93K | $135K |
| Graduation rate | 64.6% | 90.5% |
| Retention rate | 87% | 96.9% |
| Median debt | $18,194 | $24,250 |
| Tuition · year | $27,926 | $69,289 |
| Avg. aid package | $16,450 | $46,555 |
| % of need met | 55.1% | 86.7% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $21,819 | $32,461 |
| Application fee | $75 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 47,980 | 39,774 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Houston or Northeastern?
It's harder to get into Northeastern. Houston accepts 73.92% of applicants, while Northeastern accepts 5.2%.
Do Houston or Northeastern graduates earn more?
Northeastern graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $93K vs $62K.
How much is tuition at Houston vs Northeastern?
Sticker-price tuition is $27,926 per year at Houston and $69,289 per year at Northeastern.
What SAT score do you need for Houston or Northeastern?
The median admitted SAT score is 1240 at Houston and 1490 at Northeastern; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university offers more financial aid - Houston or Northeastern?
The average aid package is $16,450 at Houston and $46,555 at Northeastern.
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