Admission & test scores

Northeastern University SAT scores and acceptance rate

Admitted students scored 1440–1540 on the SAT, with an ACT midpoint of 34. Northeastern University admits 5% of applicants — highly selective. 97% of first-year students return for a second year.

SAT range1440–1540middle half of admits

ACT midpoint34admitted students

Acceptance rate5%highly selective

First-year retention97%return for year two

Reading the score band These are the scores admitted students had — not a cut-off.

25th percentile

1440

Average

1497

75th percentile

1540

A quarter of admitted students scored below 1440 and a quarter above 1540. Being under the lower figure does not rule you out — it means the rest of the application has to carry more weight — and being above the upper one does not secure a place at a selective university. This intake sits inside a student body of about 17,326.

Universities with similar scores Useful for building a realistic application list.

University	Avg SAT	ACT	Acceptance	In-state tuition
University of Richmond University of Richmond, Virginia	1497	—	22%	$65,230
Washington & Lee University Lexington, Virginia	1498	34	14%	$68,045
University of Southern California Los Angeles, California	1495	34	10%	$72,097
Vassar College Poughkeepsie, New York	1494	33	19%	$71,030
Smith College Northampton, Massachusetts	1500	33	21%	$65,178
Colby College Waterville, Maine	1501	33	7%	$69,600

Getting in is the first question, not the last

Admission data says nothing about what the degree costs or returns. Before accepting an offer, read the net price for your family's income and the earnings of previous graduates — a place at a selective university financed with heavy borrowing can be a worse outcome than a place at a less selective one that costs little.

Northeastern University admission: common questions

What SAT score do you need for Northeastern University?

The middle half of admitted students scored between 1440 and 1540 on the SAT, with an average of 1497. A score inside that band is competitive; below it you would be relying on the rest of the application.

What ACT score does Northeastern University require?

The ACT midpoint of admitted students is 34.

How hard is it to get into Northeastern University?

Northeastern University admits 5% of applicants, which is highly selective. Of those who enrol, 97% return for a second year.

Does Northeastern University require SAT or ACT scores?

This page reports what admitted students scored, not what the university requires. Many US universities went test-optional and have not returned to a requirement — always check the admissions page before deciding to skip a test.

What it costs Student loan record Debt vs graduate salary Highest SAT universities Highest acceptance rates SAT & ACT preparation

Source: US Department of Education College Scorecard — SAT/ACT scores of admitted students, acceptance rate and first-year retention as most recently published. Scores describe past intakes and are not an entry requirement.