Admissions · United States
Northeastern University Acceptance Rate: Admissions Statistics and TOEFL & IELTS Requirements
Northeastern admitted 5.2% of first-year applicants for fall 2024: 5,133 of 98,425, according to its Common Data Set.
Northeastern University TOEFL and IELTS requirements at a glance
| Applying for | TOEFL iBT | IELTS Academic |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate (first-year and transfer) | TOEFL iBTNo minimum published. Middle 50% of admitted students: 5.0–5.5 overall and subscores for tests on or after 21 January 2026; 102–110 on the 0–120 scale for tests on or before 20 January 2026. | IELTS AcademicNo minimum published. Middle 50% of admitted students: 7.5–8.0 |
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Northeastern publishes its admissions figures in the Common Data Set, released by its University Decision Support office. On 26 October 2026 the newest edition on that page was 2024-25, which covers students entering in fall 2024. This page shows the first-year acceptance rate for fall 2022 to fall 2024, the in-state, out-of-state, international, early decision and transfer figures Northeastern reports, and the TOEFL and IELTS score ranges it publishes for admitted students.
Figures read from official sources on · LingoLeap Admissions Research
Northeastern University acceptance rate by year
Northeastern acceptance rate by round and applicant group
| Group | Cycle | Rate | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early decision (ED I and ED II combined) | Fall 2024 entering class | 43.0% | 1,492 admitted of 3,466 early decision applications source |
| Early decision (ED I and ED II combined) | Fall 2023 entering class | 38.7% | 1,420 admitted of 3,672 early decision applications source |
| Early decision (ED I and ED II combined) | Fall 2022 entering class | 32.9% | 890 admitted of 2,707 early decision applications source |
| Massachusetts residents | Fall 2024 entering class | 10.8% | 1,332 admitted of 12,304 source |
| Out-of-state (US) | Fall 2024 entering class | 4.6% | 3,076 admitted of 67,424 source |
| International | Fall 2024 entering class | 3.8% | 671 admitted of 17,616; 270 enrolled source |
| Massachusetts residents | Fall 2023 entering class | 10.7% | 1,277 admitted of 11,971 source |
| Out-of-state (US) | Fall 2023 entering class | 5.2% | 3,491 admitted of 67,039 source |
| International | Fall 2023 entering class | 3.9% | 691 admitted of 17,621; 327 enrolled source |
| Yield (admits who enrolled) | Fall 2024 entering class | 53.8% | 2,759 enrolled of 5,133 admitted source |
| Yield (admits who enrolled) | Fall 2023 entering class | 50.3% | 2,744 enrolled of 5,459 admitted source |
| Yield (admits who enrolled) | Fall 2022 entering class | 40.7% | 2,519 enrolled of 6,191 admitted source |
| Transfer | Fall 2024 | 19.7% | 675 admitted of 3,420; 288 enrolled source |
| Transfer | Fall 2023 | 24.3% | 1,037 admitted of 4,267; 947 enrolled source |
| Transfer | Fall 2022 | 30.3% | 1,105 admitted of 3,644; 702 enrolled source |
What the numbers mean
Northeastern's first-year acceptance rate was 5.2% for fall 2024 (5,133 of 98,425), 5.6% for fall 2023 (5,459 of 96,631) and 6.8% for fall 2022 (6,191 of 91,000). Applications rose by about 7,400 over the two years while admits fell by about 1,060. The fall 2023 totals are taken from the residency table; the men and women rows in the same edition sum to 11 fewer applicants and 5 fewer admits, which the form allows for students without gender data.
Northeastern has two binding early decision rounds (ED I closing 1 November, ED II closing 1 January) and a non-restrictive early action round closing 1 November. Its Common Data Set reports early decision applicants and admits for both rounds together: 1,492 of 3,466 for fall 2024 (43.0%), against 5.2% overall. It does not report early action counts, and although it answers Yes to having a wait list, it leaves the wait-list counts blank in all three editions, so no wait-list rate can be given.
International applicants are admitted at a lower rate than US applicants. For fall 2024 Northeastern admitted 671 of 17,616 international first-year applicants (3.8%), against 10.8% for Massachusetts residents and 4.6% for applicants from other US states. The fall 2023 international rate was 3.9% (691 of 17,621). The fall 2022 edition gives no residency split.
Northeastern says it has no minimum TOEFL or IELTS score. Instead it publishes the middle 50% of scores among admitted students: 5.0 to 5.5 (overall and subscores) on the TOEFL iBT taken on or after 21 January 2026, 102 to 110 on the TOEFL iBT taken on or before 20 January 2026, and 7.5 to 8.0 on IELTS Academic. It says these are not cut-off scores.
Northeastern University TOEFL and IELTS requirements
Minimums for international applicants from the university's own pages. Since 21 January 2026 TOEFL iBT reports a 1–6 band score; the notes give the older 0–120 equivalent where the university states one. Convert TOEFL and IELTS scores.
Undergraduate (first-year and transfer)
TOEFL iBT: No minimum published. Middle 50% of admitted students: 5.0–5.5 overall and subscores for tests on or after 21 January 2026; 102–110 on the 0–120 scale for tests on or before 20 January 2026.
IELTS Academic: No minimum published. Middle 50% of admitted students: 7.5–8.0
Northeastern states that the ranges are not cut-off scores. Other ranges: Duolingo English Test 130–140, PTE Academic 79–86, C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency 195–202. Not accepted: IELTS Indicator, PTE Academic Online, TOEFL Essentials, TOEFL iBT Paper Test and TOEFL ITP. Results must be no more than two years old; Northeastern uses the most recent result and does not superscore. A waiver can be requested after four consecutive full-time years at English-medium schools.
Northeastern Undergraduate Admissions: International applicants · checked 26 October 2026
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FAQ
What is Northeastern's acceptance rate?
Northeastern admitted 5,133 of 98,425 first-year applicants for fall 2024, an acceptance rate of 5.2%, according to its 2024-25 Common Data Set, the newest edition on its official page on 26 October 2026. The rate was 5.6% for fall 2023 and 6.8% for fall 2022.
What is Northeastern's international acceptance rate?
Northeastern admitted 671 of 17,616 international first-year applicants for fall 2024 (3.8%) and 691 of 17,621 for fall 2023 (3.9%), according to its Common Data Set.
What is Northeastern's early decision acceptance rate?
For fall 2024 Northeastern admitted 1,492 of 3,466 early decision applicants (43.0%), counting ED I and ED II together. The rate was 38.7% for fall 2023 and 32.9% for fall 2022. Northeastern does not report early action applicant or admit counts.
What is Northeastern's transfer acceptance rate?
Northeastern admitted 675 of 3,420 transfer applicants for fall 2024 (19.7%), 1,037 of 4,267 for fall 2023 (24.3%) and 1,105 of 3,644 for fall 2022 (30.3%).
What TOEFL score does Northeastern require?
Northeastern says it does not have a minimum TOEFL score. The middle 50% of admitted students scored 5.0 to 5.5 (overall and subscores) on the TOEFL iBT taken on or after 21 January 2026, and 102 to 110 on the TOEFL iBT taken on or before 20 January 2026. It does not accept TOEFL Essentials, the TOEFL iBT Paper Test or TOEFL ITP, and does not consider MyBest scores.
What IELTS score does Northeastern require?
Northeastern says it does not have a minimum IELTS score. The middle 50% of admitted students scored 7.5 to 8.0 on IELTS Academic. It does not accept IELTS Indicator.