Northeastern University vs Harvard University

Boston, MA · Cambridge, MA · largest Scorecard gap: median debt at graduation

Scorecard match plate

Pair MA:MA

PRIVATE-NP-PAIR · SAME-STATE · ACCEPT-TIGHT · NET-SPLIT · EARN-SPLIT · DEBT-SPLIT · COMPLETE-HIGH · GAP-DEBT

  • 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-SPLIT Debt split
  • COMPLETE-HIGH High completion
  • GAP-DEBT Largest gap · Median Debt at Graduation

Instrument codes from this pair's College Scorecard ownership, geography, acceptance, net price, earnings, debt, and completion, plus the ENROLL-1SIDE · modest · 2013–2023 decade-path stamp below, not a ranking or recommendation.

Decade path · College Scorecard

Only one enrollment path is a trend

ENROLL-1SIDE · modest · 2013–2023

Size changed directionally at one school over 2013–2023; the peer's series stays a range. Both acceptance rates still tightened, so the shared frame is selectivity, not enrollment.

  • Northeastern University: enrollment grew +19.0% over 2013–2023; fitted +303 students/yr fitted, r² 0.84.
  • Harvard University: enrollment ranged 6,099–7,973 (2013–2023, 11 points) without a stable fitted direction.
  • Northeastern University: acceptance rate tightened -82.5% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.89).
  • Harvard University: acceptance rate tightened -40.9% across 2013–2023 (r² 0.89).

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

Cards ordered by relative gap on this pair. Teal = better side.

Largest gaps: Northeastern University vs Harvard University

  1. MEDIAN-DEBT-AT-GRA Harvard University leads on median debt at graduation ($14,000 vs $24,250 at Northeastern University)
  2. AVG-NET-PRICE Harvard University leads on avg net price ($19,066 vs $30,915 at Northeastern University)
  3. ACCEPTANCE-RATE Harvard University leads on acceptance rate (3.6% vs 5.2% at Northeastern University)

Northeastern University profile · Harvard University profile · Compare other colleges

Also on the Scorecard board

Median Debt at Graduation and other Scorecard questions

On median debt at graduation, who leads between Northeastern University and Harvard University?
Harvard University leads on median debt at graduation at $14,000 versus $24,250 at Northeastern University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On avg net price, who leads between Northeastern University and Harvard University?
Harvard University leads on avg net price at $19,066 versus $30,915 at Northeastern University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.
On acceptance rate, who leads between Northeastern University and Harvard University?
Harvard University leads on acceptance rate at 3.6% versus 5.2% at Northeastern University. Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard.

Source: U.S. Department of Education, College Scorecard College Scorecard institution outcomes (earnings, completion, debt); median debt at graduation focus for this pair · 2025