The university’s leadership in experiential learning, global mobility across campuses, career outcomes and academic rigor cited as reasons to apply.
High school guidance counselors say Northeastern is a top choice of high-achieving students and their families seeking a significant return on their educational investment.
Along with students and families, they cite the university’s leadership in experiential learning, global mobility across campuses, career outcomes and academic rigor as reasons to apply.
“The growing interest from our students is driven by Northeastern’s co-op reputation, exceptional ROI, diverse student body and opportunities for global experiences,” says Chris Boehm, director of college counseling at Archmere Academy, a private preparatory school in Claymont, Delaware.
“Northeastern’s rigorous experiential education allows students the opportunity to learn not only from their professors, but also peers and employers in classes, labs and workplaces,” he adds.
Northeastern students graduate with up to 18 months of real-world professional experience that is integrated with relevant classroom learning and research opportunities, providing them with global agility and meaningful career options.
According to the latest published data, 93% of Northeastern undergraduates are employed full-time or enrolled in graduate school within nine months of graduation. Among those, 91% are working in fields directly related to their majors.
Demyan Fedorov, a senior at Brooklyn Technical High School in New York, intends to major in mechanical engineering and design at Northeastern in the fall. He believes the co-op program will help him to discover his true passion — and launch a rewarding career.
“I will get the opportunity to study and explore many aspects of engineering and decide which ones I like most,” he says.
Northeastern partners with 4,000 co-op employers in 149 countries.
“Northeastern provides the perfect blend of classroom learning and real-world experience — an aspect that, as a practical learner, I find extremely important,” says Luana de Paula Afonso, a high school senior from São Paulo, Brazil, who plans to major in international affairs.
@northeasternglobalnews Northeastern University saw a record number of applicants for the 2025-26 academic year. Here’s why. #Northeastern #NortheasternUniversity #College #CollegeAcceptance #University #Education #Coop #Internship ♬ original sound – NGN
Northeastern University saw a record number of applicants for the 2025-26 academic year. Here’s why. #Northeastern #NortheasternUniversity #College #CollegeAcceptance #University #Education #Coop #Internship
Susan Davidson, of college guidance at North Shore Hebrew Academy, a Jewish day school in Great Neck, New York, is impressed by the matching process between Northeastern students and co-op advisors, which benefits participants and employers.
“For our high school students, many of whom have started their own companies, written books or contributed to their communities through service work, Northeastern is the perfect next step in their education,” Davidson says.
“The co-op program is what I talk about most with my students because it is so unique. Students can double major and follow different educational paths all while gaining real-world experience or living and working in a different part of the world.”
Gretchen Bergill, director of college counseling at North Yarmouth Academy in Maine, says NYA graduates studying at Northeastern describe an amazing combination of academics and extracurriculars.
“Our graduates enjoy cheering for Northeastern’s varsity teams, especially hockey,” she says.
Bergill says her students and families also find Northeastern’s enrollment process — from the application to financial aid — very easy to navigate.
“For students seeking need-based financial aid, the Northeastern financial aid office has been easy for them to contact and very helpful,” she says.
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Northeastern received a record 105,092 undergraduate applications for the 2025-26 academic year — a significant increase over the past few years, according to Satyajit Dattagupta, the university’s chief enrollment officer and executive vice chancellor.
“In today’s world, families are seeking clear measures of what the college ROI actually is and Northeastern’s message has been very clear,” Dattagupta says. “Our focus on a personalized experiential education through global experiences, with an emphasis on academic excellence and research, is an unparalleled experience in the higher education industry.”
Dattagupta believes that for the right kind of student, there is no other experience like the one that Northeastern provides.
“It is for this reason that I think our message is resonating and the record applications are a reflection of that,” he says.
Domestically, the highest numbers of applications this year came from New York, Massachusetts, California, New Jersey and Texas. Internationally, interest was strongest from China, India, Canada, South Korea and Brazil.
Northeastern’s global network includes 13 campuses across the U.S., Canada and the U.K. Undergraduate students primarily study in Boston, Oakland and London. Other campuses focus on graduate-level programs and research. Those locations include Toronto, Vancouver, Seattle, Charlotte, Miami and Silicon Valley, as well as Arlington, Virginia; Portland, Maine; and Nahant and Burlington, Massachusetts.
Linda Dwyer, a college assistance program advisor at Miami Palmetto Senior High School, says Northeastern truly offers something for everyone.
“The experiential learning, wide variety of global pathways, top-tier research opportunities for all students and a vibrant student population make Northeastern a clear top choice,” she says. “Families are looking for an experience that offers everything, including a job after graduation.”
Being an international student, Afonso sought out a college that prioritizes global mobility and cross-cultural experiences.
“Northeastern’s engagement through various study-abroad options and opportunities to work in different cultural contexts immediately stood out to me,” she says.
Raina Langlais attends Danvers High School, about an hour north of Boston. She says Northeastern has been her dream school since the ninth grade.
“Growing up in a small household of my mom and sister, I loved the idea of being a part of such a large community, connected to fellow Huskies all across the globe,” says Langlais, who plans to major in cell and molecular biology.
“As an incoming freshman, I feel a certain security knowing that when I go for a job interview, I will already have invaluable experience, which gives me an edge,” she says.