George Washington vs. Northeastern

Deciding between George Washington University and Northeastern University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

George Washington University
Northeastern University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • George Washington Washington, DC
  • Northeastern Boston, MA
  • Setting
  • George Washington Large City
  • Northeastern Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • George Washington 25,374
  • Northeastern 32,553
  • Type
  • George Washington Private 4 Year
  • Northeastern Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • George Washington #82
  • Northeastern #128
  • Religious Affiliation
  • George Washington -
  • Northeastern -
  • Status
  • George Washington Non-profit
  • Northeastern Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • George Washington
  • Northeastern
  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • George Washington $67,710
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • George Washington $67,710
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • Room & Board
  • George Washington $16,920
  • Northeastern $19,580
  • Average Net Price
  • George Washington $46,485
  • Northeastern $34,207
  • Average Grant Aid
  • George Washington $37,500
  • Northeastern $50,421
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • George Washington 78%
  • Northeastern 66%
  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • George Washington 27,016
  • Northeastern 98,425
  • Admitted
  • George Washington 12,723
  • Northeastern 5,133
  • Acceptance Rate
  • George Washington 47.1%
  • Northeastern 5.2%
  • Enrolled
  • George Washington 19.3%
  • Northeastern 53.8%
  • Typical SAT score
  • George Washington 1430
  • Northeastern 1490
  • Typical ACT score
  • George Washington 32
  • Northeastern 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • George Washington 3.81
  • Northeastern 3.91
  • Typical High School Grades
  • George Washington A-
  • Northeastern A
  • Admissions Standards
  • George Washington Exceptional
  • Northeastern Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • George Washington Low
  • Northeastern Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • George Washington 31/34
  • Northeastern 33/35
  • SAT Range
  • George Washington 1350/1500
  • Northeastern 1440/1540
  • Submit Test Scores
  • George Washington Test optional
  • Northeastern Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • George Washington Jan 5, 2027
  • Northeastern Jan 1, 2027
  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • George Washington 13:1
  • Northeastern 16:1
  • Popular Majors
  • George Washington
    • Social Sciences (34%)
    • Business (16%)
    • Health Professions (14%)
    • Psychology (5%)
    • Communication (4%)
  • Northeastern
    • Business (25%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • George Washington 81%
  • Northeastern 77%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • George Washington $80,500
  • Northeastern $69,500
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • George Washington 82%
  • Northeastern 79%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • George Washington $24,962
  • Northeastern $27,875
  • Median Loan Payment
  • George Washington $258
  • Northeastern $288
  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • George Washington 38%
  • Northeastern 48%
  • % Women
  • George Washington 62%
  • Northeastern 52%
  • Racial Diversity
  • George Washington High
  • Northeastern High
  • HBCU
  • George Washington No
  • Northeastern No
  • % White
  • George Washington 56%
  • Northeastern 48%
  • % Asian
  • George Washington 10%
  • Northeastern 12%
  • % Black
  • George Washington 6%
  • Northeastern 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • George Washington 8%
  • Northeastern 7%
  • % Native American
  • George Washington 0%
  • Northeastern 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • George Washington 0%
  • Northeastern 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • George Washington 4%
  • Northeastern 4%
  • % International
  • George Washington 10%
  • Northeastern 20%
  • % Unknown Race
  • George Washington 5%
  • Northeastern 6%
  • Students

  • % In-State
  • George Washington 2%
  • Northeastern 27%
  • % Out-of-State
  • George Washington 89%
  • Northeastern 62%
  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • George Washington Yes
  • Northeastern Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • George Washington No
  • Northeastern No
  • Meal Plan
  • George Washington Yes
  • Northeastern Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • George Washington No
  • Northeastern Yes
  • Daycare Facility
  • George Washington No
  • Northeastern Yes

Comparable Facts

Compare George Washington University in Washington, DC with Northeastern University in Boston, MA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northeastern University is larger than George Washington based on total student enrollment (32,553 students vs. 25,374 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • George Washington University is located in Washington, DC (Large City setting); Northeastern University is in Boston, MA (Large City setting).
  • George Washington University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Northeastern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: George Washington University 13:1; Northeastern University 16:1.

George Washington vs. Northeastern Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, George Washington or Northeastern? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northeastern University than George Washington ($34,207 vs. $46,485).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at George Washington University are 13.6% lower than at Northeastern University ($16,920 vs. $19,580).
  • George Washington University is 2.3% more expensive for in-state tuition than Northeastern (about $1,548 more per year; $67,710.00 vs. $66,162.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 2.3% higher at George Washington than at Northeastern University (about $1,548 more per year; $67,710.00 vs. $66,162.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at George Washington University than at Northeastern University (78% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northeastern University students is 34.5% larger than aid received by George Washington University students ($50,421 vs. $37,500).

George Washington vs. Northeastern Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, George Washington or Northeastern? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between Northeastern and George Washington.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Northeastern University (1490) is 60 points higher than at George Washington (1430).
  • Incoming Northeastern students have a 2 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 32 at George Washington).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: George Washington University 1350/1500; Northeastern University 1440/1540.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: George Washington University 31/34; Northeastern University 33/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: George Washington - Test optional; Northeastern - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: George Washington Jan 5, 2027; Northeastern Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Northeastern students have a 0.1 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at George Washington (3.81).
  • George Washington has a higher acceptance rate (47.1%) than Northeastern (5.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 19.3% at George Washington vs. 53.8% at Northeastern.

George Washington vs. Northeastern Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for George Washington and Northeastern? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • George Washington University's six-year graduation rate (81%) is higher than Northeastern University's (77%).
  • Graduates from George Washington University earn a median of about $11,000 more per year than Northeastern graduates about ten years after starting college ($80,500 vs. $69,500), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, George Washington University graduates have a $2,913 lower median loan debt than Northeastern graduates ($24,962 vs. $27,875).
  • Among borrowers, George Washington graduates have an estimated $30 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northeastern graduates ($258 vs. $288).
  • More George Washington graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northeastern students, three years after graduation. (82% vs. 79%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.