Old Dominion vs Northeastern - US university comparison
KEY DATA
HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS
The verdict, from the data
These are two different admissions games: Northeastern admits 5.2% of applications, Old Dominion admits 90.4%.
The more international environment is at Northeastern (13.1% international students) than Old Dominion (1.3%).
Real money goes to international students at Northeastern ($24,539 on average), while Old Dominion stops at $16,000.
On paper the cheaper option is Old Dominion: $33,885 against $69,289, which is $35,404 less a year.
None of these figures decides on its own; what decides is which course you want to be on, and on what budget.
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 90.4% acceptance). Northeastern ranks higher in the ARWU world research ranking (#801-900 vs #201-300). Northeastern graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($93K vs $55K). Old Dominion has lower sticker-price tuition ($33,885 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 Old Dominion for: lower tuition, lower graduate debt.
Choose Northeastern for: a higher world ranking, higher selectivity, higher graduate earnings.
College Council Atlas analysis · IPEDS / College Scorecard CDS 2024-25, ARWU 2024.
BY THE NUMBERS
Northeastern is more selective (5.2% vs 90.4% acceptance); Northeastern has a higher median SAT (1490 vs 1197).
Northeastern graduates earn a higher median 10 years after enrollment ($93K vs $55K); Northeastern has a higher 6-year graduation rate (90.5% vs 46.3%).
Old Dominion has lower sticker-price tuition ($33,885 vs $69,289); Northeastern offers a larger average aid package ($46,555 vs $30,437).
VALUE LANDSCAPE
FULL DATA TABLE
| Metric | Old Dominion | Northeastern |
|---|---|---|
| World rank · ARWU | #801-900 | #201-300 |
| Rank · THE | - | - |
| Acceptance rate | 90.4% | 5.2% |
| Yield rate | 19.9% | 53.8% |
| Median SAT | 1197 | 1490 |
| Avg. GPA | 3.45 | - |
| Number of applications | 15,100 | 98,425 |
| International students | 1.3% | 13.1% |
| Median earnings · 10 yrs | $55K | $93K |
| Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $37K | $62K |
| Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs | $80K | $135K |
| Graduation rate | 46.3% | 90.5% |
| Retention rate | 77% | 96.9% |
| Median debt | $24,000 | $24,250 |
| Tuition · year | $33,885 | $69,289 |
| Avg. aid package | $30,437 | $46,555 |
| % of need met | 53% | 86.7% |
| Avg. graduate debt | $32,043 | $32,461 |
| Application fee | $50 | $75 |
| Enrollment | 23,743 | 39,774 |
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is it harder to get into Old Dominion or Northeastern?
It's harder to get into Northeastern. Old Dominion accepts 90.4% of applicants, while Northeastern accepts 5.2%.
Do Old Dominion or Northeastern graduates earn more?
Northeastern graduates earn more: the median 10 years after enrollment is $93K vs $55K.
How much is tuition at Old Dominion vs Northeastern?
Sticker-price tuition is $33,885 per year at Old Dominion and $69,289 per year at Northeastern.
What SAT score do you need for Old Dominion or Northeastern?
The median admitted SAT score is 1197 at Old Dominion and 1490 at Northeastern; aim for these values or higher to be competitive.
Which university ranks higher - Old Dominion or Northeastern?
Northeastern ranks higher in the ARWU world ranking: #801-900 for Old Dominion vs #201-300 for Northeastern.
Which university offers more financial aid - Old Dominion or Northeastern?
The average aid package is $30,437 at Old Dominion and $46,555 at Northeastern.
Harvard
Stanford
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Princeton
Yale
Cornell
Penn
Johns Hopkins
Washington University
Northwestern