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

Temple vs Northeastern - US university comparison

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

KEY DATA

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

HEAD-TO-HEAD STATISTICS

80.45% Acceptance rate 5.2%
15% Yield rate 53.8%
1250 Median SAT 1490
3.42 Avg. GPA -
40,817 Number of applications 98,425
4.4% Int'l students 13.1%
$64K Median earnings · 10 yrs $93K
$41K Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs $62K
$92K Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs $135K
75% Graduation rate 90.5%
83% Retention rate 96.9%
$24,395 Median debt $24,250
$40,144 Tuition · year $69,289
$17,833 Avg. aid package $46,555
60.5% % of need met 86.7%
$41,808 Avg. graduate debt $32,461
$55 Application fee $75
$16,607 Avg. int'l aid $24,539
At a glance
Northeastern leads in 10 of 11 measured metrics
Acceptance80.45% vs 5.2%
Yield15% vs 53.8%
Aid$17,833 vs $46,555

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 (#401-500 vs #201-300). 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 Temple for: lower tuition.

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

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$83kTempleNortheastern TUITION · YEAR → MEDIAN EARNINGS · 10 YRS →
Each dot is a comparable US university; Temple and Northeastern highlighted. Up and to the left = better value ratio.

FULL DATA TABLE

Metric Temple Northeastern
World rank · ARWU#401-500#201-300
Rank · THE--
Acceptance rate80.45%5.2%
Yield rate15%53.8%
Median SAT12501490
Avg. GPA3.42-
Number of applications40,81798,425
International students4.4%13.1%
Median earnings · 10 yrs$64K$93K
Bottom 25% earnings · 10 yrs$41K$62K
Top 25% earnings · 10 yrs$92K$135K
Graduation rate75%90.5%
Retention rate83%96.9%
Median debt$24,395$24,250
Tuition · year$40,144$69,289
Avg. aid package$17,833$46,555
% of need met60.5%86.7%
Avg. graduate debt$41,808$32,461
Application fee$55$75
Enrollment29,63739,774

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is it harder to get into Temple or Northeastern?

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

Do Temple or Northeastern graduates earn more?

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

How much is tuition at Temple vs Northeastern?

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

What SAT score do you need for Temple or Northeastern?

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

Which university ranks higher - Temple or Northeastern?

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

Which university offers more financial aid - Temple or Northeastern?

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

Compare Temple 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.