Northeastern University & Boston University — Research Notes

neu_bu.md

Northeastern University & Boston University — Research Notes

Northeastern University

Overview

• Location: Boston, MA (Huntington Ave campus)
• Type: Private research university, NCAA Division I (CAA / Hockey East)
• Category: elite_private — acceptance rate has plummeted to 5.6% for Class of 2029
• Signature program: Co-op (alternating semesters of work and study)

Admissions (Class of 2029 / 2024-25 cycle)

• Total applicants: 105,092 (record high, up from 98,373)
• Overall acceptance rate: 5.6% (Boston campus fall admits only)
• ED acceptance rate: ~43% (1,492 admitted from 3,466 ED applicants)
• RD acceptance rate: ~3.8%
• Early rounds: ED I (Nov 1) + EA non-restrictive (Nov 1) + ED II (Jan 1)
• Yield rate: ~54% (2,700+ enrolled from ~5,100 admits)
• Class size: ~2,760 (Boston campus fall; excludes N.U.in and Global Scholars)
• Testing policy: Test-optional

Academic Profile (admitted students)

• SAT middle 50%: 1450-1520
• ACT middle 50%: 33-35
• Avg unweighted GPA: ~3.90
• Top 10% of HS class: 69%
• Top 25% of HS class: 94%

Demographics (undergraduate)

• White: 40%, Asian: 22%, Hispanic: 11%, Black: 5%, Multiracial: 7%, International: 13%
• Women: 52%
• Black first-year enrollment dropped 35% post-SFFA

Financial Aid / Net Price (IPEDS, Title IV recipients)

Northeastern meets 100% of demonstrated financial need.

Athletics

• NCAA Division I, 18 varsity sports
• 630 student-athletes (~3.6% of undergrad enrollment)
• Competes in CAA (most sports), Hockey East (hockey), EARC/EAWRC (rowing)

Simulation Notes

• The massive ED advantage (43% vs 3.8% RD) means ED multiplier should be very high (~11x in raw rate terms, though the pool quality differs)
• Suggested ED multiplier for simulation: ~3.5x (accounting for self-selection)
• 105K applicants on a 2,760 class is extreme volume — students treat NEU as an "add" application
• Co-op program is a major draw; yield is high for acceptance-rate peers because admitted students are serious

Boston University

Overview

• Location: Boston, MA (Commonwealth Ave campus along Charles River)
• Type: Private research university, NCAA Division I (Patriot League / Hockey East)
• Category: elite_private

Admissions (Class of 2029 / 2024-25 cycle)

• Total applicants: ~76,000
• Overall acceptance rate: 12.8%
• ED acceptance rate: ~28% (ED I)
• RD acceptance rate: ~10% (estimated)
• Early rounds: ED I (Nov 1) + ED II (Jan 6); NO Early Action
• Yield rate: ~27%
• Class size: 3,461
• Testing policy: Test-optional (through Fall 2028 / Spring 2029)

Academic Profile (admitted students)

• SAT middle 50%: 1430-1510
• ACT middle 50%: 32-34
• Avg unweighted GPA: ~3.89
• Top 10% of HS class: 92%
• Top 25% of HS class: 100%

Demographics (undergraduate)

• White: 33%, Asian: 16%, Hispanic: 10%, Black: 3%, Multiracial: 4%, International: 23%
• Women: 58%
• Black enrollment dropped from 9% to 3% post-SFFA (Class of 2028)

Financial Aid / Net Price (IPEDS, Title IV recipients)

BU meets 100% demonstrated need without loans for domestic first-years. Starting 2026-27, families under $200K income cap parent contribution at $20K.

Athletics

• NCAA Division I, 24 varsity sports
• 761 student-athletes (~4.0% of undergrad enrollment)
• Competes in Patriot League (most sports), Hockey East (hockey), CAA (some)

Simulation Notes

• 59% of enrolled Class of 2029 came via ED — BU heavily rewards ED commitment
• Suggested ED multiplier: ~2.5x
• No EA option pushes strategic applicants to ED or RD only
• Lower yield (27%) compared to peers reflects strong cross-admit competition with NEU, BC, NYU
• BU's 92% top-decile stat is very high, suggesting strong academic self-selection despite 12.8% rate

Sources

• Northeastern CDS 2024-25 (uds.northeastern.edu)
• BU CDS 2024-25 (bu.edu/asir)
• College Factual (IPEDS net price data)
• CollegeSimply, PrepScholar, Empowerly, NextGenAdmit
• Huntington News (NEU acceptance rate reporting)
• NCES/IPEDS institutional data