Northeastern took 105,256 first-year applications for fall 2025 and admitted 5,920 of them, about 5.6%. The split matters: Early Decision admitted roughly 35% of its applicants (1,910 of 5,404), while everyone else was admitted at about 4%.
The catch is that Early Decision is binding, so you give up the chance to compare aid offers. Only apply ED if the Net Price Calculator number works for your family before you hit submit. Early Action (Nov 1) and Regular Decision (Jan 1) are non-binding and still get full merit consideration.
🚨 Easy-to-Miss “Gotchas” at Northeastern (Read This First)
Merit and need come out of the same pot. Northeastern’s own calculator page says any merit award is included in its institutional aid estimate, not added on top. If your family qualifies for need-based aid, a merit scholarship usually relabels part of that grant rather than lowering your bill further.
January 1 is the last day to be considered for merit. Every merit award, plus Torch and Stamps, comes from applicants who apply by the Regular Decision deadline. There is no late merit round.
Torch nominees should not apply early. Torch Scholars are picked only from the Regular Decision pool. A nominee admitted Early Decision or Early Action is no longer eligible.
Your aid deadline depends on your admission round. FAFSA and CSS Profile are due Nov 15 (ED I), Dec 1 (EA), Jan 15 (ED II), or Feb 15 (RD). Divorced or separated parents should expect the noncustodial CSS Profile too.
Outside scholarships can shrink Northeastern grants. Northeastern applies them to unmet need first, then to loans and work-study, and then, if needed, to its own grants.
FAQ
Is this college test-optional? Yes, for admission. Northeastern University is test-optional for admission.
What is the middle 50% ACT/SAT? ACT: 33-34; SAT: 1440-1510.
Average net price? About $34,770/year after aid.
Does this school use waivers/reciprocity?
No. It is a private school, so everyone pays the same rate.
💰 Cost of Attendance at Northeastern University: 2026–2027 Rates
Figures verified against official sources in September 2026.
📅 Planning for 2027–2028? These are the 2026–2027 rates, the newest Northeastern University has published. Colleges usually release next year's costs in the spring, and we update this page when they do.
Budgeting tip: costs typically rise 2% to 5% a year. For 2027–2028, plan on roughly $1,900 to $4,800 more than the total below.
✔ Same price for every student, no matter which state you live in.
All students: billed cost per year
$95,582
Tuition, fees, housing, and meals for two semesters
Tuition & mandatory fees
$72,700
Housing & meals (typical)
$22,882
Total billed cost
$95,582
Average federal net price: $34,770 per year.
This is what first-time, full-time students who received grant aid paid after grants and scholarships, based on the most recent federal data. It counts books and living costs, so it can run higher than the billed total above. Families who got no grants are not in this average, so many middle-income families pay more. New to Net Price & SAI? Read our guide.
The Northeastern Promise (Why the Sticker Price Isn’t the Whole Story)
Northeastern is a private school, so there is no in-state discount and no regional tuition exchange. Everyone sees the same price.
What Northeastern offers instead is a written promise to families who qualify for federal aid. It aims to meet full demonstrated need. Its scholarship and grant money won’t be reduced for up to eight in-class semesters. Its need-based grants rise each year at the same rate as tuition. If your family takes a big financial hit, it will re-review your aid.
In fall 2025, every first-year found to have need had that need fully met, and the average need-based grant for those students was $64,845.
FAQ: Cost of Attendance at Northeastern University
What does a year at Northeastern really cost before aid?
For 2026-27, tuition is $71,050, required fees are $1,650, and on-campus housing and food run about $22,882. That’s roughly $95,600 in billed costs. Northeastern also budgets $1,000 for books, $900 for transportation, and $900 for personal expenses, which pushes the full estimate close to $98,400. Massachusetts requires health insurance, so add $3,049 unless you waive the school plan with your own coverage.
Do out-of-state students pay more at Northeastern?
No. As a private university, Northeastern charges the same tuition to Massachusetts residents and everyone else. It does not take part in regional tuition exchanges like NEBHE or the Academic Common Market.
Is the average net price really about $34,770?
That’s the federal average for first-time students after grants and scholarships, based on 2022-23 data. It’s a blend of families who pay close to full price and families whose need is fully covered. Run Northeastern’s MyinTuition Quick Estimator or its Net Price Calculator for a number tied to your own income and assets.
Is Northeastern a five-year school?
For many students, yes. Of the students who started in fall 2019, none finished in four years and most finished in five, because co-op work terms are built into the degree. Northeastern merit and grant money is paid for up to eight in-class semesters. Ask Student Financial Services how co-op terms are billed for your student’s program, and budget housing for the full span.
Does Northeastern need the CSS Profile, or just the FAFSA?
Both, if you want Northeastern’s own need-based money. The CSS Profile deadline depends on your admission round: Nov 15 for ED I, Dec 1 for EA, Jan 15 for ED II, and Feb 15 for Regular Decision. If you only want federal aid, the FAFSA alone is enough, and you must refile it every year.
Can international students get financial aid?
Only merit. Need-based aid at Northeastern requires U.S. citizenship or permanent residency. International applicants submit a Declaration and Certification of Finances instead of the CSS Profile.
How much do Northeastern graduates borrow?
About two-thirds of the class that graduated in 2025 took out loans, with an average of $31,878 per borrower across all loan types. Federal loans averaged $23,239 per borrower.
Nov 15 / Dec 1 / Jan 15 / Feb 15: FAFSA and CSS Profile due, depending on whether you applied ED I, EA, ED II, or Regular Decision.
January 1: Last day to apply and still be considered for any merit scholarship. Torch nominations are due the same day.
Mid-March: Stamps Scholar nominees are notified.
April 1: NU-FIRST scholarship essay due (FIRST Robotics students).
Early April: National Merit and National Recognition priority date (April 9 in the 2026 cycle). Final date is August 1.
Parent rule of thumb: get the application in by January 1 and the aid forms in by your round’s date. After that, most of the money is already decided.
Automatic Awards at Northeastern (National Merit and National Recognition)
Northeastern does not publish a GPA-and-test-score merit grid. The only awards you can count on in advance are for students who already hold a National Merit Finalist or College Board National Recognition designation. Everything else is decided in holistic review (see the next section). Northeastern is test-optional and superscores, and only about 22% of fall 2025 first-years sent an SAT.
Find your student's tier
Enter the numbers you have. We'll highlight the automatic award your student would actually get and tuck the rest out of the way. Leave it blank to browse everything.
Residency
Based on published cutoffs for entering freshmen. Always verify with the college before finalizing plans.
One award, not a pile. Colleges apply your student's single best automatic award. Automatic scholarships almost never stack with each other, though some stack with housing, departmental, or outside money. The stacking notes on each card tell you which.
Automaticnational merit
National Merit Finalist Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Early April (April 9 in the 2026 cycle) · 📢 Results: Students meeting the priority deadline typically get scholarship updates before May 1; later designations are processed afterward. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Not available in the London double degree program.
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
May replace an existing Northeastern merit award and may change previously awarded Northeastern University Grant funds. A student who is both a Finalist and a National Recognition Scholar receives only one National Scholarship.
💡
Strategic Detail
Admitted National Merit Finalists receive a competitive merit-based award. Northeastern does not publish the dollar amount. Students in the Northeastern London double degree program are not eligible.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Admitted students who become National Merit Finalists and choose Northeastern University-Boston as their first-choice college with the NMSC by the published deadlines.
Automaticnational recognition
National Recognition Program Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Early April (April 9 in the 2026 cycle) · 📢 Results: Scholars submitting by the priority deadline usually get scholarship updates before May 1; later submissions are processed afterward. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
⚠ Not available in the London double degree program.
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
May replace an existing Northeastern merit award and may change previously awarded Northeastern University Grant funds.
💡
Strategic Detail
For National First-Generation, National Rural and Small Town, and National School Recognition Scholars who are admitted. Northeastern does not publish the dollar amount. Students who hold both a Recognition designation and National Merit Finalist status receive only one National Scholarship. Not available in the London double degree program.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Admitted students who hold a College Board National Recognition designation (First-Generation, Rural and Small Town, or School Recognition) and ensure documentation is on file with Northeastern.
Data last verified Sep 29, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Note: Northeastern does not publish the dollar value of either National Scholarship. A student who holds both designations gets only one. Either award can replace an existing Northeastern merit scholarship and can change the Northeastern Grant in your aid package.
Automatic Awards: FAQs (Northeastern University)
Does Northeastern give automatic merit scholarships for GPA and test scores?
No. Outside the two National Scholarships, merit is decided in holistic review, with no published cutoffs. In fall 2025, 316 first-years with no financial need received non-need merit, averaging about $14,100.
What does a National Merit Finalist need to do to get Northeastern’s award?
Get admitted, then list Northeastern University-Boston as your college choice with the National Merit Scholarship Corporation, even if you’re starting at another campus or in N.U.in. Do it by the early April priority date to see the award before May 1. You can still qualify up to August 1, but the notice may come after the deposit deadline.
Who counts as a National Recognition Scholar?
Students named National First-Generation, National Rural and Small Town, or National School Recognition Scholars by the College Board based on PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, or AP performance. If the designation isn’t already on your application, email the College Board confirmation to Northeastern Admissions.
Can a National Scholarship stack with other Northeastern merit?
Not usually. Northeastern says a National Scholarship may replace a merit award you already have and may change your Northeastern Grant. Think of it as a possible upgrade, not an add-on.
Are London double degree students eligible?
No. Northeastern excludes National Merit and National Recognition students in the London double degree program from the National Scholarship.
Do these awards renew?
Northeastern merit is generally awarded for up to eight in-class semesters. The renewal terms, including any minimum GPA, are spelled out in the scholarship contract you receive at admission. If your student slips below the GPA, Northeastern allows one semester of probation before the award is cancelled.
Most of Northeastern’s merit money is competitive. Apply by January 1 and your student is considered automatically for the general Merit Scholarship, with no extra form.
The big packages each have their own door. Stamps is by invitation after admission. Torch needs a nomination and a Regular Decision application. NU-FIRST needs an essay by April 1. Oakland and Boston awards are for local students.
✅ Can You Stack Scholarships at Northeastern?
Aid Type
Stacks?
Northeastern Parent Translation
Merit + Need-Based Grant
Same pot
Merit counts inside your total Northeastern aid. If you have need, merit usually covers part of it instead of adding on top.
National Merit / Recognition
May replace
Can replace an existing merit award and change your Northeastern Grant. Only one National Scholarship per student.
NU-FIRST
Replaces
Full tuition that replaces any merit you were already offered.
Stamps / Torch / Oakland / Boston
Full packages
These are the whole package, coordinated with any need-based aid. Boston awards don’t cover mandatory fees; aid can help with those.
Outside Scholarships
Can reduce grants
Applied to unmet need first, then loans and work-study, then Northeastern grants. Report them in writing.
The honest picture: a middle-income family with real need will usually see its package driven by the Northeastern Promise, not by merit. Merit matters most for families who won’t qualify for need-based aid, and even there it’s selective. In fall 2025, about 12% of the entering class got non-need merit.
Automatic
Merit Scholarship
📅 Deadline: January 1 · 📢 Results: Merit scholarship offers are typically packaged with the admission decision or in the initial financial aid letter. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Counted inside your total Northeastern aid. For families with need, a merit award usually covers part of the need rather than adding on top of it. Renewal terms, including any GPA minimum, are set in the scholarship contract you receive at admission.
💡
Strategic Detail
Every first-year applicant who applies by January 1 (Regular Decision or earlier) is considered automatically. Northeastern does not publish tiers, cutoffs, or amounts. In fall 2025, 316 first-years with no financial need received non-need merit averaging $14,119 (CDS 2025-26).
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Admitted students with the strongest academic records in Northeastern's holistic review. No published GPA or test cutoff.
Full RideApp Required
Stamps Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: January 1 admission deadline; invited finalists then follow a separate Stamps application timeline. · 📢 Results: Mid-March ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Ride
Full cost-of-attendance scholarship with enrichment stipend
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Covers the full cost of attendance and replaces other Northeastern merit. Includes access to a research, travel, or project stipend, coordinated with any other aid up to cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to Northeastern by the Regular Decision deadline (January 1). A small group of admitted students will be invited to submit a Stamps-specific video application reviewed by John Martinson Honors Program faculty and staff.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview🌟 Finalist Event
💡
Strategic Detail
Stamps Scholars at Northeastern receive a full cost-of-attendance scholarship plus enrichment funding for research, travel, or projects, and ongoing mentorship from the John Martinson Honors Program.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
A small cohort of Northeastern's most accomplished enrolling students, invited after admission and chosen by John Martinson Honors Program faculty and staff.
Full RideApp Required
Torch Scholars Program
📅 Deadline: January 1 · 📢 Results: March ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Ride
Full-tuition scholarship with housing, meals, and program support
✘ Not stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Torch funding covers full tuition, fees, housing, meals, books, and program activities. It replaces other institutional merit awards and is coordinated with federal and institutional need-based aid up to the cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
A counselor, teacher, mentor, clergy member, or community worker submits a nomination through the Torch Nominator Portal by January 1. Apply Regular Decision by January 1 and file the FAFSA and CSS Profile. Finalists complete a non-cognitive assessment and three essays in February, then attend an Interview Day in March.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview💌 Letters of Rec🌟 Finalist Event
💡
Strategic Detail
Torch Scholars are selected only from the Regular Decision pool. A nominee admitted through Early Decision or Early Action loses Torch eligibility. A nominee deferred from an early round stays eligible. The award covers full tuition, fees, housing, and food, and includes a Summer Immersion Program before the first year. The application fee is waived for nominees.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
First-generation students with significant financial need who have overcome serious obstacles and show strong academic potential.
Full TuitionApp Requiredfirst robotics
NU-FIRST Scholarship (FIRST Robotics)
📅 Deadline: April 1 · 📢 Results: Before May 1 ✓ Renews (3 GPA, 4 yrs)
Full Tuition
Full-tuition scholarship for FIRST Robotics participants entering the College of Engineering
✘ Not stackable
👥 ~Northeastern describes a single winner each year winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Partial tuition award that can be combined with other merit and need-based aid, subject to Northeastern’s overall aid and cost-of-attendance rules.
📄
How to Apply
Apply to the College of Engineering by January 1. Then complete the NU-FIRST form, including an essay of up to 3,200 characters and a FIRST team reference, by April 1. The reference may email a recommendation separately.
Selection criteria: Selection based on first-generation status, academic promise, and strength of the NU-FIRST essay and application.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
For high school students who have participated in FIRST. Pays full tuition for up to eight semesters and renews with a cumulative 3.00 GPA in the College of Engineering. It is the only Northeastern merit award with its own application.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: A FIRST Robotics student admitted to the College of Engineering whose essay shows what FIRST meant to them and what they will bring to Northeastern.
Full RideAutomaticgeographicneed based
Northeastern Oakland Opportunity Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Aligned with Northeastern's first-year admission deadline (January 1 Regular Decision). · 📢 Results: Award notifications are issued alongside admission and financial aid decisions. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Full Ride
Full tuition, housing, food, and fees for Pell-eligible Oakland students at the Oakland campus
✘ Not stackable
👥 ~Up to 10 per year (8 named in the 2026 cohort) winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
This award covers full tuition, housing, and meals at the Oakland campus. It is coordinated with any additional need-based aid up to the cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
For seniors graduating from an Oakland Unified School District high school who are Pell-eligible City of Oakland residents and are admitted to the Oakland campus. The admissions page says each high school may nominate up to four candidates (older financial aid pages say two). Other candidates can be identified through the regular application review.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Up to 10 seniors per year who graduate from an Oakland Unified School District high school, are Pell-eligible Oakland residents, are admitted to Northeastern's Oakland campus, and show extensive engagement in their school and community.
App Requiredgeographic
City of Boston Scholarships (Boston Public High School, Valedictorian, Housing Authority, Neighborhood Award, Balfour Academy)
📅 Deadline: Apply for first-year admission by January 1; some programs also use City of Boston nomination processes. · 📢 Results: Notifications vary by sub-program and are typically delivered around admission and financial aid timelines. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
These scholarships and grants can typically be combined with Northeastern merit and need-based aid, subject to the cost-of-attendance ceiling.
📄
How to Apply
Apply for first-year admission to Northeastern by published deadlines. Depending on the specific program (BPS, Valedictorian, Boston Housing Authority, Neighborhood Award, Balfour Academy), students may also be identified or nominated through City of Boston scholarship processes or partner organizations.
💡
Strategic Detail
Five Boston programs: Boston Public High School Scholarship, Northeastern Boston Valedictorian Scholarship, Boston Housing Authority Scholarship, Boston Neighborhood Award (called the Northeastern Neighborhood Scholarship by Student Financial Services), and Balfour Academy Scholarship. Depending on the program, awards can cover up to full tuition, housing, and food for up to eight semesters. They do not cover mandatory fees; financial aid can help with fees.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Boston students who meet a specific program's criteria, including Boston Public Schools graduates, BPS valedictorians, Boston Housing Authority residents, and Balfour Academy participants.
Automatic
Northeastern University London Achievement Award
📅 Deadline: Aligned with Northeastern University London first-year admission deadlines. · 📢 Results: Awards are typically communicated with the admission decision or in the initial financial aid package. ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
May be combined with other need-based or external aid; Northeastern coordinates institutional funding so total aid does not exceed cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
Only for fall first-year students admitted to the Northeastern University London campus, not Boston, Oakland, or other locations. Amounts are not published and are set in the aid package.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Fall first-year students admitted to Northeastern University London with outstanding academic achievement and strong potential for continued success.
Data last verified Sep 29, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Flagship / Competitive Scholarship FAQs
When is the deadline for Northeastern merit scholarships?
January 1. Every first-year who applies by then (ED I, EA, ED II, or Regular Decision) is considered, with no separate form. NU-FIRST is the only merit award with its own application, due April 1.
How does a student get picked for Stamps?
You can’t apply directly. After admission, Northeastern invites a small group of its most accomplished admits to submit a video application, which is reviewed by John Martinson Honors Program faculty and staff. Nominees hear by mid-March. Stamps covers the full cost of attendance and adds a research, travel, or project stipend.
How does Torch work, and why shouldn’t nominees apply early?
A counselor, teacher, mentor, or community leader nominates the student by January 1. Torch Scholars are chosen only from the Regular Decision pool, so a nominee admitted Early Decision or Early Action loses eligibility. Finalists write three more essays in February and attend an Interview Day in March. Torch covers full tuition, fees, housing, and food, plus a summer program before freshman year.
What is NU-FIRST, and who qualifies?
NU-FIRST is for students who took part in FIRST Robotics in high school and are admitted to the College of Engineering. It is not a first-generation scholarship. It pays full tuition for up to eight semesters with a 3.00 GPA in Engineering. It replaces any merit already offered, and the essay is due April 1.
Are there full scholarships for local students?
Yes. The Oakland Opportunity Scholarship goes to up to 10 Pell-eligible Oakland residents from Oakland Unified high schools each year. Eight students received it in 2026, and it covers tuition, housing, food, and fees at the Oakland campus. Northeastern’s admissions page says each high school can nominate up to four students; older financial aid pages say two. Boston students can qualify for five city programs worth up to full tuition, housing, and food.
Does Northeastern University London have its own scholarship?
Yes. Every fall first-year admitted to the London campus is considered for the Achievement Award. It doesn’t apply to Boston, Oakland, or other locations.
🧠 Parent Strategy: The Money That Shows Up After Enrollment
At Northeastern, the admission-time package is most of the story. But a second layer of money opens up once your student is on campus, and most families never hear about it.
Check the Scholarship Manager link under Resources in the Student Hub every year.
Put January on the calendar for Student Life Scholarships ($300 to $5,000 for student leaders).
Point research-minded students to PEAK Fellowships, with deadlines in August, December, and March.
If your student joins ROTC, compare the Army, Navy, and Air Force options. Each is set up differently.
Parent translation: these won’t change your freshman bill much, but they add up over five years, and they reward exactly the involvement co-op employers look for.
💎 Hidden Gem Scholarships
These awards don’t make the headlines. Some come through admissions with no separate application, like Ujima. Others are for students already enrolled, and some are tied to military service.
Automatic
Ujima Global Leaders Program
📅 Deadline: No separate application; selected from admitted first-year applicants (apply by January 1) ✓ Renews (4 yrs)
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Moderate-sized leadership cohort each year; exact numbers vary. winners/yr
✚
Stacking & Combining
Scholarship amount varies and can interact with other Northeastern merit and need-based aid; total institutional funding is coordinated not to exceed cost of attendance.
💡
Strategic Detail
Founded in 1972 as the Ujima Scholars Program. Recipients are chosen by the John D. O'Bryant African American Institute and Admissions from the admitted first-year pool. The scholarship amount is not published. It is not offered outside the first-year admission process.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Admitted first-year students whose applications show leadership and service and the potential to drive positive change locally and globally.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
PEAK Fellowships (Undergraduate Research)
📅 Deadline: Fall: Aug 15; Spring: Dec 15; Summer: Mar 15 (Outfitter is rolling) Non-Renewable
$350–$6,000
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Limited number of awards per cycle based on available funding. winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Paid for research or creative work rather than as a tuition discount, so it generally sits alongside other aid.
📄
How to Apply
Work with a faculty member to develop a research or creative project and submit a PEAK Experiences Fellowship application through Northeastern’s Undergraduate Research and Fellowships portal by the cycle deadline.
Selection criteria: Selection emphasizes project clarity, feasibility, student preparation, and strength of faculty support.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Four tiers: Base Camp $750 (once per student), Summit $1,500 (once per academic year), Trail-Blazer $6,000 (full-time summer project), and Outfitter up to $350 per year to present or publish work. Funds can pay the student or buy project materials.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Undergraduates with feasible, well-supported research or creative proposals and active faculty mentorship.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Student Life Scholarships (Atkins, Ford, Spear, Rigg and 5 more)
📅 Deadline: Applications open each January for the following academic year Non-Renewable
$300–$5,000
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
One-year awards. Five of the nine require FAFSA-determined need; outside of that, they generally sit alongside other aid.
📄
How to Apply
Watch for the January application on the Student Life Scholarships page, pick the awards that fit, and apply. Questions go to the Orientation and Family Programs office.
💡
Strategic Detail
Nine named awards of $300 to $5,000, open to first-years through graduating seniors: Charles Havice; Clara and Joseph Ford (graduating seniors); Greg Jarvis Memorial (third-year and up, 2.5 GPA); Joseph Spear (College of Engineering, 2.5 GPA, FAFSA need); Karen T. Rigg Shining Torch (first- and second-years, 2.5 GPA); Matthew Shepard and Morris S. Kay; Richard Cardinal Cushing (second-year and up); Thomas I. Atkins Social Justice (FAFSA need); William H. Wildes. International students can apply for Ford, Jarvis, Rigg, and Cushing.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Current full-time undergraduates in good academic and judicial standing who are active in student organizations and campus life.
Full TuitionApp Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Army ROTC (Liberty Battalion)
📅 Deadline: High school national scholarship dates are set by U.S. Army Cadet Command; campus-based scholarships are reviewed once a semester. ✓ Renews
Full Tuition
Army ROTC tuition scholarship with stipend and book allowance
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Determined annually by the U.S. Army and Liberty Battalion allocations. winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Covers full tuition and mandatory fees plus book stipend and monthly allowance; cannot stack with other full-tuition institutional awards, but may be combined with need-based aid or housing support up to cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Apply for an Army ROTC national high school scholarship or campus-based scholarship through the Liberty Battalion and meet all academic, fitness, and service requirements.
Selection criteria: Selection based on academic performance, leadership, physical fitness, and performance in ROTC selection boards.
✎ Essays🎤 Interview💌 Letters of Rec
💡
Strategic Detail
Northeastern hosts the Liberty Battalion. Scholarships cover full tuition, mandatory fees, a $1,200 yearly book stipend, and a $420 monthly stipend. Campus-based scholarships require a 2.5 cumulative GPA. Cadets take part in co-op like any other Northeastern student.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: U.S. citizens who meet Army ROTC fitness and academic standards, show leadership potential, and commit to commissioning as Army officers.
Full TuitionApp Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Navy ROTC (via Boston University)
📅 Deadline: Set by the national Navy ROTC scholarship program ✓ Renews
Full Tuition
Navy ROTC scholarship: full tuition, mandatory fees, books, monthly stipend
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Housing and food are not included, so need-based aid can still help with those costs.
📄
How to Apply
Apply for a national NROTC scholarship, enroll at Northeastern, and join the Boston University NROTC unit. Classes, labs, and workouts are held at BU or MIT.
💡
Strategic Detail
Northeastern is part of a six-school NROTC consortium hosted by Boston University. The scholarship covers full tuition, mandatory fees, $375 per semester for books, and a monthly stipend starting at $250 that rises $50 a year to $400. Students in the five-year program may apply for a fifth-year extension, which can add to the service commitment.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students who win a national Navy ROTC scholarship and commit to Navy or Marine Corps service.
Full TuitionApp Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Air Force ROTC (via Boston University, Det 355)
📅 Deadline: High school scholarship applications are due by December of senior year ✓ Renews
Full Tuition
Air Force ROTC scholarship: tuition, textbooks, required fees, monthly stipend
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Room and board are not included, so need-based aid can still help with those costs.
📄
How to Apply
Apply at afrotc.com during senior year, then enroll at Northeastern and train with Det 355 at Boston University. Students already in college can be nominated by the detachment after one semester.
💡
Strategic Detail
Northeastern has a crosstown agreement with Air Force ROTC Detachment 355 at Boston University. Scholarships cover tuition, textbooks, required fees, and a $300 to $500 monthly tax-free stipend. Cadets in the upper-level program who meet scholarship standards can receive the Charles McGee Leadership Award of $18,000 a year.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Students with strong academics and fitness who commit to Air Force or Space Force service.
Data last verified Sep 29, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Money the college does not control. Federal programs, city promise funds, foundations, and employers. The college may help you apply, but someone else writes the check, and these almost always stack with the college's own awards.
Outside MoneyAutomatic⚠ All Undergrad Only
Yellow Ribbon Program
📅 Deadline: Rolling; submit VA paperwork to Veteran and Military Services as early as possible ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Unlimited; no cap on the number of eligible students winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Yellow Ribbon supplements Post-9/11 GI Bill benefits; combined VA and institutional funding can cover remaining tuition and fees, but interaction with other institutional scholarships is coordinated through Military Services and Financial Aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
Northeastern has participated at the highest level since 2019, with unlimited institutional funding for eligible students and more than $16 million provided since 2010. Beneficiaries at the 100% Post-9/11 GI Bill level are enrolled automatically. VA funding cannot be used for N.U.in, London Scholars, or NYC Scholars.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Veterans and eligible dependents at the 100% Post-9/11 GI Bill tier who enroll at Northeastern and complete Yellow Ribbon certification.
Data last verified Sep 29, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
❓ Hidden Gems FAQ
What is the Ujima Global Leaders Program?
A scholarship and four-year leadership cohort founded in 1972. The John D. O’Bryant African American Institute and Admissions select students from the admitted first-year pool. There’s no separate application, and Northeastern doesn’t publish the award amount.
What are the Student Life Scholarships?
Nine named awards from $300 to $5,000 for current undergraduates who lead on campus. They include the Thomas I. Atkins Social Justice, Joseph Spear (engineering), and Karen T. Rigg Shining Torch awards. Applications open each January. Some require FAFSA need, and four are open to international students.
Can my student get research money as an undergrad?
Yes. PEAK Fellowships range from a $750 starter award to a $6,000 full-time summer project, plus up to $350 a year to present or publish work. Deadlines are August 15, December 15, and March 15.
How generous is Northeastern for veterans?
Very. Northeastern takes part in the Yellow Ribbon Program at the highest level, with no cap on the number of students. Anyone at the 100% Post-9/11 GI Bill level is enrolled automatically. VA funds can’t be used for N.U.in, London Scholars, or NYC Scholars.
Which ROTC programs can Northeastern students join?
Army ROTC is on campus (Liberty Battalion), and cadets still do co-op. Navy ROTC runs through Boston University, with classes at BU or MIT. Air Force ROTC runs through Boston University’s Detachment 355. All three scholarships cover tuition and fees plus stipends, but not housing or food, so need-based aid can still help there.
Northeastern’s honors option is the John Martinson Honors Program, not a separate Honors College. The good news for busy families: there’s no extra application. Every applicant is considered, whether they apply Early Decision, Early Action, or Regular Decision. The invitation, and any Honors scholarship, shows up right in the admission letter.
Who gets invited: A select group of first-years starting in Boston or, beginning fall 2026, in N.U.in.
How to accept: Through the Application Status Check portal after decisions come out.
Missed the invite? Students can apply later through Internal Admissions. Students at Oakland, London, New York, and N.U.in can apply in semesters two through four.
Honors Scholarships, Travel Money & Grants
Automatic
University Honors Scholarship
📅 Deadline: No separate application; considered with the admission application (apply by January 1) Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Like all Northeastern merit, it is counted inside the student's total Northeastern aid.
💡
Strategic Detail
The Honors Program says admitted Honors students "may be awarded" a dedicated University Honors Scholarship. It does not publish amounts, how many students receive it, or renewal terms.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Some students invited to the John Martinson Honors Program at admission.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Global Support Fund (Honors Direct Admits)
📅 Deadline: Submit the GSF Request Form after acceptance to an approved global experience and before that term's request deadline. · 📢 Results: Notifications are issued after Honors office proposal review. Non-Renewable
$6,000
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Cannot be used for a Dialogue or Summer In whose fee Honors already waived. It may be reduced if the student reaches the yearly aid cap.
📄
How to Apply
First-year Honors students submit a grant proposal to the John Martinson Honors Program before departure, describing an approved global experience (Dialogue of Civilizations, study abroad, or a global co-op) and including a budget and goals.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
A $6,000 pool for Direct Admits toward approved Northeastern global experiences, including Dialogue of Civilizations, study abroad, and global co-op. Covers program fees, economy airfare, housing, and meals that the program fee does not include. It does not cover tuition. Awards can be smaller than requested.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Direct Admit Honors students accepted to an approved global experience who submit a clear budget.
Automatic
Honors First-Year Summer Fee Waiver
📅 Deadline: Applied automatically when a Direct Admit enrolls in an eligible Summer 1 or Summer 2 program after the first year Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
Holistic / Status Based
✚
Stacking & Combining
Does not cover tuition, though scholarships and aid still apply to tuition for that term.
💡
Strategic Detail
For students admitted to Honors before enrolling. Usable only in Summer 1 or Summer 2 of the first year. There is no separate application.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Most winners: Every Honors Direct Admit who enrolls in a Dialogue of Civilizations or Summer In program during the first-year summer.
📅 Deadline: Spring application window via MyNortheastern Student Portal (reopens Spring 2027) · 📢 Results: Notifications are issued after the spring review cycle closes. ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with Northeastern's standard need and merit aid packages; awards are applied toward tuition charges and are coordinated within cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Active Honors students apply during the spring application window through their MyNortheastern Student Portal. Complete the relevant Honors scholarship application based on eligibility (Alden requires Worcester County, MA residency; Peabody is open to any Honors student with demonstrated need).
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Two need-based Honors tuition scholarships. The George Alden Trust requires permanent residency in Worcester County, Massachusetts. The Amelia Peabody Scholarship is open to any active Honors student with demonstrated need. Students must earn the Honors Impact Badge (first-year requirements) before applying. Amounts are not published.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Active John Martinson Honors Program participants in good academic standing with demonstrated financial need. Alden recipients must also maintain permanent residency in Worcester County, Massachusetts; Peabody is open to Honors students from anywhere.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Gladys Brooks Scholarship
📅 Deadline: Spring application window via MyNortheastern Student Portal (reopens Spring 2027) · 📢 Results: Notifications are issued after the spring review cycle. ✓ Renews (3.5 GPA)
Varies
✔ Stackable
🏫 3.5+ GPA🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with standard need and merit aid; applied against tuition charges within cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Active Honors students apply during the spring application window through the MyNortheastern Student Portal. The application asks for evidence of leadership, service, or professional growth alongside academic record.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
Requires a 3.5 or higher GPA, at least two years remaining in the program, distinguished Honors activity, and a record of leadership, service, or professional growth. The Honors Impact Badge must be earned first.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Honors students with a strong academic record (3.5+ GPA), at least two years remaining in their program, distinguished Honors program activity, and a clear record of leadership, service, or professional growth.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Joseph A. Coolidge Award
📅 Deadline: Spring window; the application link is emailed to eligible students (reopens Spring 2027) · 📢 Results: Notifications are issued after the spring review cycle. ✓ Renews
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Stacks with standard need and merit aid; awarded against tuition charges within cost of attendance.
📄
How to Apply
Eligible Honors students in a single or combined major in Chemistry, Physics, Biomedical Physics, Biochemistry, Environmental Science, or Mathematics are emailed the application link directly. Students with questions can contact Dr. Justin Silvestri (j.silvestri@northeastern.edu).
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
For Honors students with a single or combined major in Chemistry, Physics, Biomedical Physics, Biochemistry, Environmental Science, or Mathematics. Eligible students receive the application link by email. The Honors Impact Badge must be earned first.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Honors students in physical sciences or mathematics with demonstrated academic achievement, leadership, and community engagement.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Honors Propel Grant
📅 Deadline: Spring cycle: Sept 15 to Oct 15; Summer cycle: Feb 1 to Mar 1; Fall cycle: Jul 1 to Aug 15 Non-Renewable
$1,000
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Project funding rather than a tuition discount. A student can receive up to three Propel Grants while in Honors.
📄
How to Apply
Submit a project description, learning objectives, a timeline and budget, and a faculty mentor's letter of support during the cycle window. Recipients give a 45-minute presentation when the project ends.
💡
Strategic Detail
Up to $1,000 per student per grant. Group projects can receive up to $3,000 when five or more Honors students take part. Open to all Honors students.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Honors students with a well-planned project that applies classroom learning in a new setting, backed by a faculty mentor.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Martinson Global Grants
📅 Deadline: Submit the MGG Request Form after acceptance to an approved global experience and before that term's request deadline. Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
👥 ~Limited by annual Honors global funding resources. winners/yr🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
One-time award that stacks with other scholarships and aid to support international opportunities.
📄
How to Apply
Get accepted to an approved global experience, then submit the MGG Request Form before the term deadline.
Selection criteria: Reviewed based on clarity of goals, academic preparation, and alignment with Honors and global engagement outcomes.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
For Internal Admits, meaning students who join Honors after enrolling. Amounts depend on eligible expenses, available funding, and a financial-need category supplied by Student Financial Services. Covers program fees, economy airfare, housing, and meals not included in the program fee. It does not cover tuition, global co-op, or self-directed global experiences.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Internal Admit Honors students accepted to an approved Northeastern global experience, with priority shaped by financial need.
App Required⚠ All Undergrad Only
Honors Enrichment Travel Award (HETA)
📅 Deadline: Rolling, prior to conference travel. · 📢 Results: Notifications are issued after proposal and budget review by the Honors office. Non-Renewable
Varies
✔ Stackable
🎓 All Undergrad
✚
Stacking & Combining
Covers conference registration, travel, and lodging, not tuition, so it sits alongside other aid.
📄
How to Apply
Honors students designated by Northeastern Student Financial Services (NU SFS) as having High Financial Need apply through the HETA Wufoo form linked from the Project Funding Opportunities page. Submit documentation of conference acceptance and a brief funding proposal.
✎ Essays
💡
Strategic Detail
A pilot award for Honors students whom Student Financial Services designates as High Financial Need. It covers costs of attending domestic academic conferences. Amounts vary by conference and budget.
🕵
Who Actually Wins
Honors students with NU SFS High Financial Need designation who are presenting or significantly engaging at domestic academic conferences.
Data last verified Sep 29, 2026.* GPA/test bands are estimates based on official selectivity and prior cohort profiles. "Who Actually Wins" insights are pulled from external peer-sourced data where students and parents have reported real-world award results. Because colleges can change funding thresholds and deadlines at any time, always verify these details with the institution before finalizing your application strategy.
Northeastern does not publish dollar amounts for the University Honors Scholarship or the four Honors tuition scholarships. Global and project funding amounts are listed where the Honors Program publishes them.
The First-Year Requirement That Unlocks the Money: Honors tuition scholarships (Alden, Peabody, Coolidge, and Gladys Brooks) require the Honors Impact Badge. Students earn it in the first year by taking the Honors Discovery course, joining community events, and completing one self-directed learning experience. Students also need a 3.0 GPA to stay in Honors. The tuition scholarship window runs each spring and reopens in Spring 2027.
Direct Admits vs. Internal Admits (This Changes the Travel Money)
Invited at admission (Direct Admits): A first-year summer fee waiver that covers the program fee and airfare for one Dialogue of Civilizations or Summer In trip, plus a $6,000 Global Support Fund for approved global experiences.
Joined after enrolling (Internal Admits): Martinson Global Grants, sized by expenses, available funding, and financial need.
Everyone in Honors: Honors Propel Grants of up to $1,000 per project (up to three per student), and the HETA conference-travel award for students with high financial need.
John Martinson Honors Program: FAQs (Northeastern University)
Does my student need a separate Honors application?
No. Northeastern considers every applicant for Honors as part of the regular application. If your student is invited, it’ll be in the admission letter.
Does Honors come with a scholarship?
Sometimes. The Honors Program says students admitted to Honors “may be awarded” a University Honors Scholarship, but it doesn’t publish amounts. Like other Northeastern merit, it’s counted within your total aid.
What is the First-Year Summer Fee Waiver?
For students invited to Honors at admission, Northeastern covers the program fee and round-trip economy airfare for one Dialogue of Civilizations or Summer In program during the first summer. It’s applied automatically, but it doesn’t cover tuition, and flights must be booked through the Global Experience Office.
Is the $6,000 Global Support Fund per trip or total?
It’s a $6,000 pool per Direct Admit that can go toward approved global experiences. It covers program fees, airfare, housing, and meals that aren’t already included, but not tuition. Your student can use it all on one trip, but awards may come in lower than requested.
What does it take to stay in Honors?
A 3.0 cumulative GPA, plus earning the Honors Impact Badge in the first year. Dropping below 3.0 puts a student on Honors probation.
If you remember one thing about Northeastern, make it co-op. Students alternate classroom semesters with full-time, paid jobs in their field, and they often graduate with a year or more of real work experience on their résumé.
Northeastern has been doing this for more than a century. It’s the reason most students take five years instead of four, and it’s why the school’s career outcomes get so much attention.
What Students Actually Major In:
Business is the biggest slice of bachelor’s degrees (about 21%), followed by computer science (16%), engineering (15%), biology and life sciences (11%), and health professions (11%). Those five areas make up nearly three-quarters of every graduating class.
Computer Science (Khoury College): One of the first standalone computer science colleges in the country. Co-op placements at tech employers are a big draw.
Business (D’Amore-McKim): Northeastern’s largest undergraduate program, built around co-op in finance, accounting, marketing, and entrepreneurship.
Engineering: Co-op started here, and engineering students still use it heavily. It’s also home to the NU-FIRST full-tuition scholarship for robotics students.
Health Sciences (Bouvé): Nursing, pharmacy, physical therapy, and other health programs, with clinical co-ops in Boston’s hospital system.
Biology & Life Sciences: A strong pre-health pipeline, with undergraduate research funding through PEAK Fellowships.
Global Options: Students can start in Boston, Oakland, London, New York, or through N.U.in (a first semester abroad), and Dialogue of Civilizations runs faculty-led summer programs around the world.
🔗 Official Northeastern University Links
Use Northeastern’s official pages below to double-check deadlines, scholarship rules, costs, and data. Always treat these as the final word on award terms and dates.
Northeastern is a school where the price tag and the real cost can be very far apart, but not for the reason most families expect. The big lever isn’t a merit grid. It’s the Northeastern Promise: meet full need, keep grants steady for eight in-class semesters, and raise them as tuition goes up. If your family qualifies for need-based aid, that promise will shape your bill far more than any merit award, because merit and need come out of the same pot.
If you won’t qualify for need-based aid, the path is narrower. Apply by January 1, remember that only about one in eight first-years gets non-need merit, and look hard at the special doors: Stamps, Torch (Regular Decision only), NU-FIRST for robotics kids, and the Oakland and Boston awards for local students. Then plan for five years, not four, because co-op is the whole point. It’s also why so many Northeastern graduates walk out with a job offer already in hand.
Your kid did everything right. That does not mean the money follows.
Most families build a college list first and think about scholarships second, which is backwards. This free four-part series shows you where the money actually comes from, and how to build a list around it.
After the series, about once a month, sometimes twice during application season. No drip funnels, no affiliate pitches, and we never sell your information. Unsubscribe anytime.
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Written by Leo Dimilo
I started CollegeReadyParent while working through college costs for my own kid, and quickly figured out that the number a school advertises and the number a family actually pays are two very different things. Since then I’ve gone school by school pulling apart award letters, scholarship pages, and cost sheets to find what families are supposed to just know. This site is the version of that research I wish someone had handed me. More about Leo →
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