Northeastern University is a private research university in Boston, best known for its co-op programme, which places students in six-month paid jobs as part of their degree. It is strong in engineering, computer science, business and health sciences, with campuses across North America and in London. Choose it if work experience matters as much as the classroom.
Boston, United States
Official website: northeastern.edu
#396
No. 1 in the US (U.S. News)
Top 60 (U.S. News)
Over 20,000 across all campuses
$60,000 – $68,000
International students, undergraduate and most master's programmes
$22,000 – $28,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on northeastern.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
MS Information Systems
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 90
MS Data Science
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
MS Engineering Management
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 90
MBA (D'Amore-McKim School of Business)
Masters DegreeDuration
24 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
BS Computer Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
Co-op programme — most students complete two or three six-month paid placements before graduating.
Over 3,000 employer partners, from Amazon and Google to Boston's hospitals and startups.
Global campuses — Seattle, Silicon Valley, Toronto, Vancouver and London among them.
Khoury College of Computer Sciences — one of the largest computing schools in the US.
Co-op students work at Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Fidelity, Wayfair and Boston biotech firms, often converting to full-time offers.
STEM master's graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT, on top of co-op experience.
Around 90% of graduates are employed or in graduate school within nine months.
Engineering and CS bachelor's graduates report median starting salaries around USD 85,000-95,000.
Undergrad
1 Jan 2027
Postgrad
Varies by programme
Undergrad
No UG intake
Postgrad
Varies by programme
The campus sits in Boston's Fenway and Roxbury neighbourhoods, a dense urban site with the Museum of Fine Arts next door and two subway lines running through it.
Boston has more than 50 colleges, so students shape much of the city's life. Fenway Park and the Back Bay are minutes away, though rent is among the highest in the US.
Form I-20 issued by Northeastern
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
For fall 2027 undergraduate entry, Early Decision I and Early Action close 1 November 2026, and Regular Decision closes 1 January 2027. Graduate deadlines vary by college: most computer science and engineering master's have rolling rounds closing between December and March, and the MBA runs rounds through April.
Undergraduates start in the fall (September). Most master's programmes, including computer science, information systems, data science and engineering management, admit for both fall and spring (January), while the MBA is fall only. Some programmes are also offered at the Seattle, Silicon Valley and Toronto campuses.
You need an F-1 student visa. The Office of Global Services issues your Form I-20 after you accept the offer and submit proof of funding. Then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and book an interview at a US embassy or consulate. Co-op work is authorised through CPT on the same visa.
Computer science, information systems, data science, engineering management and the MBA attract the most international applicants. Graduate admission needs a bachelor's degree with a GPA of at least 3.0, TOEFL 90-100 or IELTS 6.5-7.0, and the GRE for some programmes. Undergraduate admission is selective, with an acceptance rate under 10%.
International undergraduates are considered for merit scholarships when they apply, though need-based aid is limited. Graduate colleges offer partial merit scholarships to strong applicants, particularly in engineering and computer science. Paid co-op placements also offset costs, with students earning throughout their six-month work terms.
