Northeastern vs. Fordham

Deciding between Northeastern University and Fordham 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.

Northeastern University
Fordham University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Northeastern Boston, MA
  • Fordham Bronx, NY
  • Setting
  • Northeastern Large City
  • Fordham Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Northeastern 32,553
  • Fordham 16,150
  • Type
  • Northeastern Private 4 Year
  • Fordham Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Northeastern #128
  • Fordham #133
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Northeastern -
  • Fordham Roman Catholic
  • Status
  • Northeastern Non-profit
  • Fordham Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Northeastern
  • Fordham

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • Fordham $64,915
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • Fordham $64,915
  • Room & Board
  • Northeastern $19,580
  • Fordham $24,090
  • Average Net Price
  • Northeastern $34,207
  • Fordham $48,190
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Northeastern $50,421
  • Fordham $35,988
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Northeastern 66%
  • Fordham 95%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Northeastern 98,425
  • Fordham 43,364
  • Admitted
  • Northeastern 5,133
  • Fordham 25,719
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Northeastern 5.2%
  • Fordham 59.3%
  • Enrolled
  • Northeastern 53.8%
  • Fordham 9.7%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Northeastern 1490
  • Fordham 1400
  • Typical ACT score
  • Northeastern 34
  • Fordham 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Northeastern 3.91
  • Fordham 3.67
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Northeastern A
  • Fordham A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Northeastern Elite
  • Fordham Exceptional
  • Applicant Competition
  • Northeastern Extreme
  • Fordham Low
  • ACT Range
  • Northeastern 33/35
  • Fordham 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Northeastern 1440/1540
  • Fordham 1320/1480
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Northeastern Test optional
  • Fordham Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Northeastern Jan 1, 2027
  • Fordham Jan 1, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Northeastern 16:1
  • Fordham 14:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Northeastern
    • Business (25%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • Fordham
    • Business (26%)
    • Social Sciences (20%)
    • Communication (13%)
    • Psychology (7%)
    • English and Literature (6%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Northeastern 77%
  • Fordham 78%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Northeastern $69,500
  • Fordham $64,200
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Northeastern 79%
  • Fordham 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Northeastern $27,875
  • Fordham $26,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Northeastern $288
  • Fordham $268

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Northeastern 48%
  • Fordham 39%
  • % Women
  • Northeastern 52%
  • Fordham 61%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Northeastern High
  • Fordham High
  • HBCU
  • Northeastern No
  • Fordham No
  • % White
  • Northeastern 48%
  • Fordham 59%
  • % Asian
  • Northeastern 12%
  • Fordham 10%
  • % Black
  • Northeastern 4%
  • Fordham 4%
  • % Hispanic
  • Northeastern 7%
  • Fordham 14%
  • % Native American
  • Northeastern 0%
  • Fordham 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Northeastern 0%
  • Fordham 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Northeastern 4%
  • Fordham 3%
  • % International
  • Northeastern 20%
  • Fordham 7%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Northeastern 6%
  • Fordham 2%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Northeastern 27%
  • Fordham 38%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Northeastern 62%
  • Fordham 51%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Northeastern University in Boston, MA with Fordham University in Bronx, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northeastern University is larger than Fordham based on total student enrollment (32,553 students vs. 16,150 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Northeastern University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Fordham University is in Bronx, NY (Large City setting).
  • Northeastern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Fordham University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Northeastern University 16:1; Fordham University 14:1.

Northeastern vs. Fordham Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northeastern or Fordham? 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 Fordham ($34,207 vs. $48,190).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northeastern University are 18.7% lower than at Fordham University ($19,580 vs. $24,090).
  • Northeastern University is 1.9% more expensive for in-state tuition than Fordham (about $1,247 more per year; $66,162.00 vs. $64,915.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 1.9% higher at Northeastern than at Fordham University (about $1,247 more per year; $66,162.00 vs. $64,915.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Fordham University than at Northeastern University (95% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northeastern University students is 40.1% larger than aid received by Fordham University students ($50,421 vs. $35,988).

Northeastern vs. Fordham Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Northeastern or Fordham? 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 Fordham and Northeastern.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Northeastern University (1490) is 90 points higher than at Fordham (1400).
  • Incoming Northeastern students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at Fordham).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northeastern University 1440/1540; Fordham University 1320/1480.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northeastern University 33/35; Fordham University 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Northeastern - Test optional; Fordham - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Northeastern Jan 1, 2027; Fordham Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Northeastern students have a 0.24 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Fordham (3.67).
  • Fordham has a higher acceptance rate (59.3%) than Northeastern (5.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.8% at Northeastern vs. 9.7% at Fordham.

Northeastern vs. Fordham Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Northeastern and Fordham? 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).

  • Fordham University's six-year graduation rate (78%) is higher than Northeastern University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Northeastern University earn a median of about $5,300 more per year than Fordham graduates about ten years after starting college ($69,500 vs. $64,200), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Fordham University graduates have a $1,875 lower median loan debt than Northeastern graduates ($26,000 vs. $27,875).
  • Among borrowers, Fordham graduates have an estimated $20 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northeastern graduates ($268 vs. $288).
  • More Northeastern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Fordham students, three years after graduation. (79% vs. 77%)

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.