Northeastern vs. F&M

Deciding between Northeastern University and Franklin and Marshall College? 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
Franklin and Marshall College

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Northeastern Boston, MA
  • F&M Lancaster, PA
  • Setting
  • Northeastern Large City
  • F&M Small City
  • Total enrollment
  • Northeastern 32,553
  • F&M 1,808
  • Type
  • Northeastern Private 4 Year
  • F&M Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Northeastern #128
  • F&M #60
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Northeastern -
  • F&M -
  • Status
  • Northeastern Non-profit
  • F&M Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Northeastern
  • F&M

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • F&M $70,794
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Northeastern $66,162
  • F&M $70,794
  • Room & Board
  • Northeastern $19,580
  • F&M $16,188
  • Average Net Price
  • Northeastern $34,207
  • F&M $43,987
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Northeastern $50,421
  • F&M $41,901
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Northeastern 66%
  • F&M 80%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Northeastern 98,425
  • F&M 9,881
  • Admitted
  • Northeastern 5,133
  • F&M 2,785
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Northeastern 5.2%
  • F&M 28.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Northeastern 53.8%
  • F&M 17.1%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Northeastern 1490
  • F&M 1390
  • Typical ACT score
  • Northeastern 34
  • F&M 31
  • Average High School GPA
  • Northeastern 3.91
  • F&M -
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Northeastern A
  • F&M -
  • Admissions Standards
  • Northeastern Elite
  • F&M Very High
  • Applicant Competition
  • Northeastern Extreme
  • F&M High
  • ACT Range
  • Northeastern 33/35
  • F&M 30/33
  • SAT Range
  • Northeastern 1440/1540
  • F&M 1310/1463
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Northeastern Test optional
  • F&M Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Northeastern Jan 1, 2027
  • F&M Jan 15, 2027

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Northeastern 16:1
  • F&M 9:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Northeastern
    • Business (25%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Health Professions (11%)
    • Social Sciences (9%)
    • Communication (6%)
  • F&M
    • Social Sciences (29%)
    • Business (12%)
    • Biology (10%)
    • General Studies (7%)
    • Psychology (7%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Northeastern 77%
  • F&M 85%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Northeastern $69,500
  • F&M $61,900
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Northeastern 79%
  • F&M 88%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Northeastern $27,875
  • F&M $22,000
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Northeastern $288
  • F&M $227

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Northeastern 48%
  • F&M 49%
  • % Women
  • Northeastern 52%
  • F&M 51%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Northeastern High
  • F&M High
  • HBCU
  • Northeastern No
  • F&M No
  • % White
  • Northeastern 48%
  • F&M 59%
  • % Asian
  • Northeastern 12%
  • F&M 5%
  • % Black
  • Northeastern 4%
  • F&M 6%
  • % Hispanic
  • Northeastern 7%
  • F&M 8%
  • % Native American
  • Northeastern 0%
  • F&M 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Northeastern 0%
  • F&M 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Northeastern 4%
  • F&M 2%
  • % International
  • Northeastern 20%
  • F&M 14%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Northeastern 6%
  • F&M 6%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Northeastern 27%
  • F&M 29%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Northeastern 62%
  • F&M 55%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Northeastern University in Boston, MA with Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

Northeastern University is larger than F&M based on total student enrollment (32,553 students vs. 1,808 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Northeastern University is located in Boston, MA (Large City setting); Franklin and Marshall College is in Lancaster, PA (Small City setting).
  • Northeastern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. Franklin and Marshall College is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Northeastern University 16:1; Franklin and Marshall College 9:1.

Northeastern vs. F&M Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northeastern or F&M? 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 F&M ($34,207 vs. $43,987).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Franklin and Marshall College are 17.3% lower than at Northeastern University ($16,188 vs. $19,580).
  • Franklin and Marshall College is 7% more expensive for in-state tuition than Northeastern (about $4,632 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $66,162.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7% higher at F&M than at Northeastern University (about $4,632 more per year; $70,794.00 vs. $66,162.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Franklin and Marshall College than at Northeastern University (80% vs. 66%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northeastern University students is 20.3% larger than aid received by Franklin and Marshall College students ($50,421 vs. $41,901).

Northeastern vs. F&M Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Northeastern or F&M? 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 F&M and Northeastern.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Northeastern University (1490) is 100 points higher than at F&M (1390).
  • Incoming Northeastern students have a 3 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 31 at F&M).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northeastern University 1440/1540; Franklin and Marshall College 1310/1463.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northeastern University 33/35; Franklin and Marshall College 30/33.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Northeastern - Test optional; F&M - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Northeastern Jan 1, 2027; F&M Jan 15, 2027.
  • F&M has a higher acceptance rate (28.2%) than Northeastern (5.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 53.8% at Northeastern vs. 17.1% at F&M.

Northeastern vs. F&M Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Northeastern and F&M? 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).

  • Franklin and Marshall College's six-year graduation rate (85%) is higher than Northeastern University's (77%).
  • Graduates from Northeastern University earn a median of about $7,600 more per year than F&M graduates about ten years after starting college ($69,500 vs. $61,900), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Franklin and Marshall College graduates have a $5,875 lower median loan debt than Northeastern graduates ($22,000 vs. $27,875).
  • Among borrowers, F&M graduates have an estimated $61 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than Northeastern graduates ($227 vs. $288).
  • More F&M graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Northeastern students, three years after graduation. (88% 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.