Northeastern University

Summary

Northeastern University is a private institution that was founded in 1898. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 12,838, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 73 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Northeastern University's ranking in the 2012 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 62. Its tuition and fees are $38,252 (2011-12).

At Northeastern University, students gain substantial work experience before receiving their diplomas. Nine in 10 Northeastern undergraduates complete at least one professional co-op during their college career, working for one of 2,380 employers around the world, such as GEICO and MTV. Students can choose to complete their degree in four years, with the potential for two co-ops, or five years, building in time for three co-ops. While students pay for eight semesters of tuition in either scenario, one in six students now opts to graduate in four years. Outside of the classroom and workplace, there are more than 250 clubs and organizations for students, including about 25 fraternities and sororities. The Northeastern Huskies compete in the NCAA Division I Colonial Athletic Conference. An additional 9,500 students compete at the club and intramural sport level. Freshmen are not required to live on campus, though more than 95 percent choose to do so. Northeastern’s campus is spread out across 73 acres in the venerable college town of Boston. Northeastern has its own stop on Boston’s subway system, commonly called the T. The city, home to myriad colleges, is steeped in American history and full of activities for students.

The university receives hefty research grants each year from the National Science Foundation and the National Institutes of Health, as well as the Departments of Homeland Security, Energy, and Defense. Undergraduates and graduates alike can get involved in research, and many present projects in the annual Research and Scholarship Exposition. The university has been recognized by the Boston Business Journal as a leading educator of area CEOs. Notable alumni from other sectors include Napster founder Shawn Fanning and talk show host Wendy Williams.