Northeastern University
BOSTON, MA
Temple University
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA
COLLEGE COUNCIL · ATLAS · US UNIVERSITIES

Northeastern vs Temple - US university comparison

Northeastern University
NORTHEASTERN
Boston, MA
World rank · ARWU#201-300
Acceptance5.2%
Median SAT1490
Graduation rate90.5%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$93K
Temple University
TEMPLE
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
World rank · ARWU#401-500
Acceptance80.45%
Median SAT1250
Graduation rate75%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$64K
🔒 UNDERGRADUATE 🔒 GRADUATE

KEY DATA

Northeastern University Temple University
#201-300 World rank · ARWU #401-500
- Rank · THE -
5.2% Acceptance rate 80.45%
1490 Median SAT 1250
90.5% Graduation rate 75%
39,774 Enrollment 29,637

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

5.2% Acceptance rate 80.45%
53.8% Yield rate 15%
1490 Median SAT 1250
- Avg. GPA 3.42
98,425 Number of applications 40,817
13.1% Int'l students 4.4%
$93K Median earnings · 10 yrs $64K
$62K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $41K
$135K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $92K
90.5% Graduation rate 75%
96.9% Retention rate 83%
$24,250 Median debt $24,395
$69,289 Tuition · year $40,144
$46,555 Avg. aid package $17,833
86.7% % of need met 60.5%
$32,461 Avg. graduate debt $41,808
$75 Application fee $55
$24,539 Avg. int'l aid $16,607
At a glance
Northeastern leads in 10 of 11 measured metrics
Acceptance5.2% vs 80.45%
Yield53.8% vs 15%
Aid$46,555 vs $17,833

The verdict, from the data

These are two different admissions games: Northeastern admits 5.2% of applications, Temple admits 80.5%.

The share of international students differs sharply: 13.1% (Northeastern) against 4.4% (Temple).

The tuition gap is $29,145 a year: $40,144 (Temple) against $69,289.

The higher median salary ten years after enrolment belongs to Northeastern: $93K against $64K.

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 80.45% acceptance). Northeastern ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#201-300 vs #401-500). Northeastern graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($93K vs $64K). Temple has lower sticker-price tuition ($40,144 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 Northeastern for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.

Choose Temple for: lower tuition.

College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.

BY THE NUMBERS

Admissions

Northeastern is more selective (5.2% vs 80.45% acceptance); Northeastern has a higher median SAT (1490 vs 1250).

Graduate outcomes

Northeastern graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($93K vs $64K); Northeastern has a higher 6-year graduation rate (90.5% vs 75%).

Cost and aid

Temple has lower sticker-price tuition ($40,144 vs $69,289); Northeastern offers a larger average aid package ($46,555 vs $17,833).

VALUE LANDSCAPE

$35k$76k$117k$158k$11k$35k$59k$83kNortheasternTemple TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
Each dot is a comparable US university; Northeastern and Temple highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Northeastern Temple
World rank · ARWU#201-300#401-500
Rank · THE--
Acceptance rate5.2%80.45%
Yield rate53.8%15%
Median SAT14901250
Avg. GPA-3.42
Number of applications98,42540,817
International students13.1%4.4%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$93K$64K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$62K$41K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$135K$92K
Graduation rate90.5%75%
Retention rate96.9%83%
Median debt$24,250$24,395
Tuition · year$69,289$40,144
Avg. aid package$46,555$17,833
% of need met86.7%60.5%
Avg. graduate debt$32,461$41,808
Application fee$75$55
Enrollment39,77429,637

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Northeastern or Temple?

It's harder to get into Northeastern. Northeastern accepts 5.2% of applicants, while Temple accepts 80.45%.

Do Northeastern or Temple graduates earn more?

Northeastern graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $93K vs $64K.

How much is tuition at Northeastern vs Temple?

Sticker-price tuition is $69,289 per year at Northeastern and $40,144 per year at Temple.

What SAT score do you need for Northeastern or Temple?

The median admitted SAT score is 1490 at Northeastern and 1250 at Temple; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.

Which university ranks higher - Northeastern or Temple?

Northeastern ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #201-300 for Northeastern vs #401-500 for Temple.

Which university offers more financial aid - Northeastern or Temple?

The average aid package is $46,555 at Northeastern and $17,833 at Temple.

Compare Northeastern with
Highest-ranked in ARWU. Click "↻ Change university" in the cards above to choose from all 47 universities (+35).
All metrics come 100% from College Council Atlas (canonical) - admissions, SAT, GPA, graduate outcomes, financial aid and costs from IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25; rankings from ARWU 2024 and THE 2025. Zero manual fields. "-" = not yet in canonical.