Northeastern University (NU)

A world leader in experiential-learning education, Northeastern emphasizes educational programs that link coursework with practical experiences, including global opportunities, service-learning, research and our signature co-op program on a global stage.

There's a certain energy about Northeastern University. It comes from the bright, ambitious students, exhibiting a strong sense of purpose in the classroom and while working or studying abroad. Our students are global citizens from the outset with three undergraduate campuses in Boston, London, and Oakland, California. Northeastern students challenge themselves intellectually, investigate career options, participate in community service, and graduate both personally and professionally prepared for their future careers and graduate school.

Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a leader in interdisciplinary research, urban engagement, and the seamless integration of classroom learning with real-world experiences. The academic curriculum is enhanced by experiential learning through research, professional, global, and service experiences. Anchored by the world's largest, most innovative cooperative education program, Northeastern prepares students for a lifetime of achievement, and allows them to make an impact on the world before they graduate.

The current undergraduate enrollment of 20,400 is made up of students of all backgrounds and interests, giving Northeastern its distinctive culture. Students can participate in any of Northeastern more than 500 student organizations across campuses, join a cultural club, participate in cutting-edge research with faculty from various disciplines, or perform with an award-winning a cappella group. They can engage with their local communities to experience theatre in London’s theatre district, travel to the White Mountains for a ski club trip, engage with start-up companies in Silicon Valley, tutor local children, and more. Students have countless opportunities to make lifelong friendships, to try something brand new—a class, a sport, or a career path—to hone their leadership skills, and have fun.

Students have access to over 500 clubs and organizations across all three undergraduate campuses, including an extensive network of advisement and counseling services. Approximately 19,100 students participate in student organizations. Programs and services sponsored by the African American Institute, the Latinex Student Cultural Center, the Asian American Center, the Office of Global Services, and many other organizations enrich Northeastern's social life and cultural fabric. In athletics, Northeastern competes in NCAA Division I and maintains varsity teams in 1 co-ed, 7 men's and 9, women's sports.

Northeastern is "both incredibly diverse as well as being a quintessential New England school." This environment is filled with many people from different backgrounds (including a sizable international population), and "it's not unusual to hear ten languages in ten minutes walking across campus." People are "motivated and passionate about the issues or projects they care about" and "are implementing and rolling with those ideas." No one here is cookie-cutter in any way, as "everyone has their quirks and qualities that shine through." All are "very supportive and seem to genuinely care about each other," which is useful since the nature of the school requires quite a few independent student decisions and those who go here "quickly have to become an adult and take charge of [their] life."

There is certainly no lack of activities in which to participate in nearby Boston (there are four T stops on campus), from movie theaters, museums, restaurants, and shopping malls to the Prudential Center and the Charles River, which "provides opportunities for running, walking, biking, [and] kayaking." One student happily notes that "our location means that I can get dumplings in Chinatown, see a show, or attend the Christmas tree lighting without much effort to get off campus." Weekends are traditionally for city exploring, and weekdays usually are filled with people participating in one of the many clubs the school offers. Plus, Northeastern has "a ton of amazing events and programs on campus that make the campus feel like a community." Students on co-op "tend to have a lot more free time at night and on the weekends, allowing them to get more involved and spend more time with friends." Still, life outside of school is "pretty substantial" for this "extremely social" crowd: Mission Hill is a popular spot for a Friday and Saturday night activities. Greek life is small but "becoming more popular" on campus.

One of Northeastern’s strengths is “creating co-op opportunities that enhance what we learn in the classroom to best prepare us for the future.” This incredible amount of work experience automatically gives graduates an edge when it comes time to enter the workforce. Northeastern partners with various organizations to offer six-week, real-world projects via Experiential Network; with the Co-op program, students get up to a year-and-a-half of real-world experience in their fields by rotating academic semesters with semesters of full-time employment. These opportunities provide “a huge advantage when it comes to looking for jobs post-graduation.” Having a “strong academic pipeline to university cultivated co-ops and jobs,” all in the center of Boston, is a tremendous advantage. The Career Development Office (CDO) further aids students on their professional paths by inviting industry professionals to the Employer in Residence program and hosting the largest university-wide career fairs in the region. The CDO continues to adapt its frameworks to the needs of their students, making the Career Design coaching labs available virtually, and forming identity-based career platforms to support hiring diversity in historically underrepresented groups at events such as the LGBTQA+ Career Conference, B.L.A.C.K. (Black Leaders Accessing Consciousness through Knowledge), and L.A.T.I.N.X. (LatinX Accessing Their Intellect Through Networking and Exchange) Career Expo. According to PaysScale.com, alumni with bachelor’s degrees from Northeastern report a median starting salary of $76,100, and 50 percent of respondents feel their work is making a meaningful impact.