Northeastern University

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The Pride of Boston: Northeastern University

Northeastern University appears in our ranking of the 25 Best Bachelor’s in Engineering Online Degrees. Northeastern University offers 58 undergraduate major fields of study from accounting to theater. These 58 majors are separated into eight “colleges.” The College of Arts, Media, and Design, for example, encompasses the following majors:
  • Architecture
  • Art and design
  • Communication studies
  • Game design
  • Journalism
  • Media and screen studies
  • Music
  • Theater
Northeastern University’s philosophy behind its College of Arts, Media, and Design is to engender curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking in the students that seek to study the included subjects. The other seven Colleges are the:
  • D’Amore-Mckim School of Business
  • College of Computer and Information Science
  • College of Engineering
  • Bouvé College of Health Sciences
  • College of Professional Studies
  • College of Science
  • College of Social Sciences and Humanities
Northeastern University also provides access to more than 95 combined majors of various types, and the institution allows prospective students to propose their own majors. Graduate students also have access to these programs, along with many others that can be completed online or in a hybrid form that combine classroom and online study.

About Northeastern University

Northeastern University began life on the cusp of the 20th century as a parochial institution called the “Evening Institute for Younger Men.” It was associated with the YMCA and opened its doors two years after its founding for higher learning in the field of law on October 3, 1898. At that time, classes were only available at night because most of the students worked day jobs and were not available for classes during the day. As the college grew in enrollment, it offered new fields of study, including the Automobile School in 1903 and the School of Commerce in 1907. As the enrollment grew, too, there were not enough classrooms nor space in the evening schedule for everything offered, so the institution’s officials expanded to daytime classes in 1909. The institution kept its original name for 20 years before being incorporated as Northeastern College. A year later, in 1917, it became Northeastern University and has remained so for the last 100 years. Eventually, the space at the original location became too cramped, so the university sought a new home. As a quintessential Boston institution, Northeastern University bought the Red Sox’s old field in 1929, which had sat dormant for 17 years after Fenway Park was built. Although the beginning of the Depression slowed the university’s plans for expansion, they completed their construction in 1934. Over the next 80 years, Northeastern University has added programs, expanded course offerings, and morphed itself from humble beginnings to become one of the leading universities in the United States.

Northeastern University Accreditations

Each of the eight associated Colleges within Northeastern University’s educational framework is accredited in some way by reputable third parties. The university itself is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. There are 16 accreditations of programs offered under the Bouvé College of Health Sciences. Those accreditations come from many highly respected organizations, including the Commission on Accreditation of Athletic Training Education, the Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education, among others. Other of the university’s programs hold equally prestigious accreditations. Certain other organizations that do not accredit but approve programs of study, such as the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing, approve of the applicable programs of study relevant to them. Organizations have also accredited the university’s online study programs. Some of the many accreditations include those of the:
  • New England Association of Schools and Colleges Inc.
  • Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business
  • Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education
  • National Association of Schools of Public Affairs and Administration
In all, Northeastern University’s accreditations reinforce its sterling reputation as one of the leading schools in the country.

The Application Process

Undergraduate students can apply online either through the Common Application or the Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success. The cost of application is $75 unless the student qualifies for a need-based fee waiver. The Common Application allows students to apply to up to 700 colleges and universities, and the Coalition Application allows the application to 100 institutions. The chief difference between the two is that the Coalition Application for Access, Affordability, and Success is designed for disadvantaged applicants or those applicants who suffer hardships outside of their own control. Before the application is completed and filed, students must gather all the required documents and ensure that all academic qualifications are in order. Those documents and requirements are: Recommendations from teachers and guidance counselors
  • All applicable high-school transcripts
  • Proof of English proficiency, which can be a composite of 92 or better on the TOEFL iBT, and no score worse than 22 on any subject other than speaking or a 24 in speaking, IELTS Academic overall score of 6.5 or greater with no subsection less than 6.0, a PTE Academic of 62 or greater, or a C1 Advanced or C2 proficiency score of 176 or greater on the Cambridge English Proficiency Exam
  • For U.S. students, an official SAT or ACT score sent from the testing agency directly to Northeastern University, or for foreign students, a proficiency exam from their home country that occupies the same place in their education system, such as das Abitur in Germany
Students who wish to apply for graduate school must complete the online application and have all transcripts forwarded to Northeastern University. Any student who has graduated, or will graduate, from Northeastern University must simply ensure that all transcripts are up-to-date. The fee of either $75 or $100 must be paid, and from one to three application letters must be submitted. The prospective graduate student should also submit a resume or a CV. If the program in question requires it, scores from the GRE, LSAT, or GMAT must also be included with the application. International students for whom English is a second language must provide proof of proficiency in the same manner as undergraduate students. Students who were undergraduates at Northeastern University don’t have to submit the proficiency again. In certain cases, the proficiency can be bypassed. These cases include students who wish to study business, social sciences, engineering, mathematics, or science. If such is the case, the student can apply to the university through the Global Pathways program.

Tuition and Financial Aid

When it comes to financial aid, the process is straightforward. At the Northeastern University Financial Aid Webpage, prospective students can follow a user-friendly series of dropdown menus to find out not only what is available but also what steps are necessary to secure financial aid by the time classes start. Housing at Northeastern University on campus costs, depending on room type, from between roughly $4,000 and $8,000 annually, and the tuition for the 2018-2019 school year is about $25,000. Meal plans cost as much as $4,000 themselves, and there are several options available. Depending on the field of study, graduate programs cost approximately $1,300 per credit hour. Some programs charge a flat rate per semester, such as the direct PharmD program, which costs about $25,000 a semester. In all, Northeastern University provides students with a slew of degree programs, certifications, and educational opportunities at a competitive cost among universities of its stature along with a solid and robust financial aid program.

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