Undergraduate Enrollment
- Northeastern University
- 17,326
- Boston University
- 18,248
Northeastern University vs Boston University
Boston, MA · Boston, MA · largest Scorecard gap: acceptance rate
Scorecard match plate
Pair MA:MA
PRIVATE-NP-PAIR · SAME-STATE · ACCEPT-TIGHT · NET-SPLIT · EARN-SPLIT · DEBT-PAR · COMPLETE-HIGH · GAP-ACCEPT
- PRIVATE-NP-PAIR Private nonprofit pair
- SAME-STATE Same state · MA
- ACCEPT-TIGHT Tight admission
- NET-SPLIT Net-price split
- EARN-SPLIT Earnings split
- DEBT-PAR Debt near-par
- COMPLETE-HIGH High completion
- GAP-ACCEPT Largest gap · Acceptance Rate
Instrument codes from this pair's College Scorecard ownership, geography, acceptance, net price, earnings, debt, and completion, plus the ENROLL-RACE · single · 2013–2023 decade-path stamp below, not a ranking or recommendation.
Decade path · College Scorecard
Both enrollments grew, different paces
ENROLL-RACE · single · 2013–2023
Undergraduate headcount rose at both Northeastern University and Boston University across 2013–2023 on similar paces, while acceptance rates tightened on both sides, a growth-under-squeeze pattern rather than a pure size race.
- Northeastern University: enrollment grew +19.0% over 2013–2023; fitted +303 students/yr fitted, r² 0.84.
- Boston University: enrollment grew +8.4% over 2013–2023; fitted +135 students/yr fitted, r² 0.66.
- Northeastern University: acceptance rate tightened -82.5% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.89).
- Boston University: acceptance rate tightened -76.2% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.92).
College Scorecard institution series; dollars are nominal. Direction claims require r² ≥ 0.40 on the fitted annual slope, otherwise the page reports the observed range. Descriptive history, not a recommendation.
Scorecard metrics
Acceptance Rate
- Boston University
- 11.1%
Avg Net Price
- Northeastern University
- $30,915
- Boston University
- $24,402
Median Earnings (6 yr)
- Northeastern University
- $78,413
- Boston University
- $65,655
Median Earnings (10 yr)
- Northeastern University
- $92,538
- Boston University
- $83,238
Median Debt at Graduation
- Northeastern University
- $24,250
- Boston University
- $23,250
In-State Tuition
- Northeastern University
- $66,162
- Boston University
- $68,102
Out-of-State Tuition
- Northeastern University
- $66,162
- Boston University
- $68,102
Retention Rate
- Northeastern University
- 96.9%
- Boston University
- 94.7%
Cards ordered by relative gap on this pair. Teal = better side.
| Metric | Northeastern University Boston, MA | Boston University Boston, MA |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate Enrollment | 17,326 | 18,248 |
| Acceptance Rate | 5.2% | 11.1% |
| Avg Net Price | $30,915 | $24,402 |
| Median Earnings (6 yr) | $78,413 | $65,655 |
| Median Earnings (10 yr) | $92,538 | $83,238 |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $24,250 | $23,250 |
| In-State Tuition | $66,162 | $68,102 |
| Out-of-State Tuition | $66,162 | $68,102 |
| Retention Rate | 96.9% | 94.7% |
Largest gaps: Northeastern University vs Boston University
- ACCEPTANCE-RATE Northeastern University leads on acceptance rate (5.2% vs 11.1% at Boston University)
- AVG-NET-PRICE Boston University leads on avg net price ($24,402 vs $30,915 at Northeastern University)
- MEDIAN-EARNINGS-(6 Northeastern University leads on median earnings (6 yr) ($78,413 vs $65,655 at Boston University)
Northeastern University profile · Boston University profile · Compare other colleges
Also on the Scorecard board
Acceptance Rate and other Scorecard questions
On acceptance rate, who leads between Northeastern University and Boston University?▼
Northeastern University leads on acceptance rate at 5.2% versus 11.1% at Boston University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On avg net price, who leads between Northeastern University and Boston University?▼
Boston University leads on avg net price at $24,402 versus $30,915 at Northeastern University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On median earnings (6 yr), who leads between Northeastern University and Boston University?▼
Northeastern University leads on median earnings (6 yr) at $78,413 versus $65,655 at Boston University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard College Scorecard institution outcomes (earnings, completion, debt); acceptance rate focus for this pair · 2025