Northeastern vs Texas at Austin - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
A place is harder to win where the bar sits higher: Northeastern admits 5.2%, Texas at Austin admits 26.6%.
The larger international cohort belongs to Northeastern: 13.1% of students against 4.5% (Texas at Austin).
On paper the cheaper option is Texas at Austin: $44,908 against $69,289, which is $24,381 less a year.
Ten years on, graduates of Northeastern earn noticeably more: $93K against $75K.
These numbers describe the cohorts already enrolled, not your chances; treat them as a starting point rather than a forecast.
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 26.64% acceptance). Texas at Austin ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#201-300 vs #45). Northeastern graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($93K vs $75K). Texas at Austin has lower sticker-price tuition ($44,908 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: higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings, a higher graduation rate.
Choose Texas at Austin for: a higher world ranking, lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Northeastern is more selective (5.2% vs 26.64% acceptance); Northeastern has a higher median SAT (1490 vs 1395).
Northeastern graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($93K vs $75K); Northeastern has a higher 6-year graduation rate (90.5% vs 88.9%).
Texas at Austin has lower sticker-price tuition ($44,908 vs $69,289); Northeastern offers a larger average aid package ($46,555 vs $20,219).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Northeastern | Texas at Austin |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #201-300 | #45 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 5.2% | 26.64% |
| Yield rate | 53.8% | 47.4% |
| Median SAT | 1490 | 1395 |
| Avg. GPA | - | - |
| Number of applications | 98,425 | 72,885 |
| International students | 13.1% | 4.5% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $93K | $75K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $62K | $51K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $135K | $117K |
| Graduation rate | 90.5% | 88.9% |
| Retention rate | 96.9% | 96.7% |
| Median debt | $24,250 | $20,500 |
| Tuition · year | $69,289 | $44,908 |
| Avg. aid package | $46,555 | $20,219 |
| % of need met | 86.7% | 75% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $32,461 | $19,919 |
| Application fee | $75 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 39,774 | 53,864 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Northeastern or Texas at Austin?
It's harder to get into Northeastern. Northeastern accepts 5.2% of applicants, while Texas at Austin accepts 26.64%.
Do Northeastern or Texas at Austin graduates earn more?
Northeastern graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $93K vs $75K.
How much is tuition at Northeastern vs Texas at Austin?
Sticker-price tuition is $69,289 per year at Northeastern and $44,908 per year at Texas at Austin.
What SAT score do you need for Northeastern or Texas at Austin?
The median admitted SAT score is 1490 at Northeastern and 1395 at Texas at Austin; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Northeastern or Texas at Austin?
Texas at Austin ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #201-300 for Northeastern vs #45 for Texas at Austin.
Which university offers more financial aid - Northeastern or Texas at Austin?
The average aid package is $46,555 at Northeastern and $20,219 at Texas at Austin.
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