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Academics

Northeastern University
Academics

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How strong are the academics at Northeastern University?

Let's cover class sizes, graduation rates, and outcomes.

16:1
Student to faculty ratio
27
Average class size

Class Sizes

Class sizes likely stayed the same for you through high school. You'll find that college is much different. Some of the largest universities have classes that can seat hundreds of students in giant lecture halls. Conversely, as they progress and their focus narrows, higher-level courses can sometimes have just a handful of students.

Northeastern has an average student-to-faculty ratio of 16:1. The typical school is 14:1. While this ratio is important, what’s more important is how big a typical class is.

Class Sizes
2-9
323
10-19
1,262
20-29
534
30-39
373
40-49
373
50-99
183
100+
79

Honors Programs

Northeastern University has an honors program and/or honors college. Specifics of these programs vary, but benefits of being in an Honors Program might include priority registration, being part of a tight-knit community, and accessing unique learning opportunities.

Learn more about honors options on Northeastern's website.

Outcomes

It’s critical to understand a school’s outcomes to understand if your four (or more) years at the school will be worth it. Here are some key statistics about the outcomes of students who enroll at Northeastern University:

97%
First-year retention rate
91%
6-year grad rate

Majors

Many students choose a school largely based on the what they want to study. The are Northeastern University's most popular majors, ranked by how many people graduated with the concentration in the most recent year:

Business/Commerce, General
Computer and Information Sciences, General
Mechanical Engineering
Health and Medical Administrative Services, Other
Econometrics and Quantitative Economics
26.6
217.88
409.16
600.44
791.72
983

The Full List

Major Graduates
Architecture And Related Services
  • Architectural and Building Sciences/Technology 38
  • Architectural History and Criticism, General 9
  • Architectural Studies 8
  • Landscape Architecture 1
  • Architecture 1
Area
  • African-American/Black Studies 1
  • Asian Studies/Civilization 0
Biological And Biomedical Sciences
  • Neuroscience 156
  • Biology/Biological Sciences, General 126
  • Biochemistry 88
  • Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology 74
  • Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other 14
  • Marine Biology and Biological Oceanography 13
  • Ecology and Evolutionary Biology 9
  • Neuroscience 4
  • Biology/Biological Sciences, General 4
  • Biophysics 2
  • Biochemistry 1
  • Biotechnology 0
Business
  • Business/Commerce, General 983
  • International Business/Trade/Commerce 99
  • Business/Commerce, General 3
  • Management Science 0
  • Organizational Leadership 0
  • Finance, General 0
  • Business Administration and Management, General 0
Communication
  • Speech Communication and Rhetoric 58
  • Communication and Media Studies, Other 55
  • Journalism 45
  • Communication and Media Studies, Other 1
  • Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia 0
Communications Technologies/Technicians And Support Services
  • Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics, and Special Effects 7
Computer And Information Sciences And Support Services
  • Computer and Information Sciences, General 632
  • Data Modeling/Warehousing and Database Administration 108
  • Computer and Information Systems Security/Auditing/Information Assurance 22
  • Computer and Information Sciences, General 1
  • Information Science/Studies 0
  • Information Technology 0
Engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering 243
  • Engineering, Other 134
  • Computer Engineering, General 124
  • Chemical Engineering 93
  • Electrical and Electronics Engineering 87
  • Civil Engineering, General 84
  • Industrial Engineering 79
  • Computer Engineering, General 1
  • Industrial Engineering 1
  • Mechanical Engineering 1
  • Electrical and Electronics Engineering 1
  • Mechatronics, Robotics, and Automation Engineering 0
Engineering/Engineering-Related Technologies/Technicians
  • Computer Engineering Technology/Technician 0
  • Electrical, Electronic, and Communications Engineering Technology/Technician 0
  • Manufacturing Engineering Technology/Technician 0
  • Mechanical/Mechanical Engineering Technology/Technician 0
English Language And Literature/Letters
  • English Language and Literature, General 22
Foreign Languages
  • Linguistics 10
  • American Sign Language (ASL) 4
  • Spanish Language and Literature 1
  • Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other 0
Health Professions And Related Programs
  • Health and Medical Administrative Services, Other 198
  • Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 95
  • Pharmacy 58
  • Audiology/Audiologist and Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist 7
  • Pharmaceutical Sciences 4
  • Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse 1
  • Public Health, General 1
  • Health and Medical Administrative Services, Other 1
  • Physical Therapy/Therapist 0
  • Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions, Other 0
  • Health/Health Care Administration/Management 0
  • Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration, Other 0
History
  • History, General 17
  • History, General 1
Homeland Security
  • Corrections and Criminal Justice, Other 39
  • Criminal Justice/Safety Studies 33
Legal Professions And Studies
  • Legal Studies 6
  • Non-Professional Legal Studies 6
  • LEGAL PROFESSIONS AND STUDIES 6
Liberal Arts And Sciences
  • Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 5
  • Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies 1
Mathematics And Statistics
  • Mathematics, General 96
  • Mathematics, General 3
Natural Resources And Conservation
  • Environmental Studies 39
  • Environmental Science 31
  • Environmental Science 1
  • Environmental Studies 1
Philosophy And Religious Studies
  • Philosophy 10
  • Religion/Religious Studies 1
  • Philosophy 1
Physical Sciences
  • Chemistry, General 25
  • Physics, General 19
  • Geology/Earth Science, General 3
  • Physics, General 2
  • Chemistry, General 2
Psychology
  • Research and Experimental Psychology, Other 161
  • Research and Experimental Psychology, Other 3
  • Psychology, General 0
  • Applied Psychology 0
Public Administration And Social Service Professions
  • Human Services, General 20
  • Human Services, General 20
  • PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONS 20
  • Human Services, General 1
  • Human Services, General 1
  • PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONS 1
  • Public Administration and Social Service Professions, Other 1
Social Sciences
  • Econometrics and Quantitative Economics 186
  • Political Science and Government, General 118
  • International Relations and Affairs 46
  • Sociology, General 22
  • Political Science and Government, Other 22
  • Development Economics and International Development 9
  • Econometrics and Quantitative Economics 2
  • Social Sciences, Other 1
  • International Relations and Affairs 1
  • Cultural Anthropology 1
  • Economics, General 0
Visual And Performing Arts
  • Graphic Design 42
  • Music, General 24
  • Digital Arts 15
  • Photography 8
  • Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General 6
  • Fine/Studio Arts, General 4
  • Design and Applied Arts, Other 3
  • Game and Interactive Media Design 2
  • Drama and Dramatics/Theatre Arts, General 2
  • Digital Arts 1
  • Film/Cinema/Media Studies 0
  • Illustration 0
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