Is Northeastern worth BIG debt?

College Search & Selection
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<p>I’d go with Rutgers. Great public school ONLY if he can handle a large school</p>

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<p>I have relatives and friends who have attended/are attending Northeastern- they all have loved the school. The issue for me is not the school. It is a fine school in a great area. The issue is the debt.</p>

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<p>unfortunately (and quite ironically), it is your numbers that are incorrect.</p>

<p>directly from northeasterns common data set, prepared by maureen donovan regan, senior research analyst in northeasterns office of institutional research:</p>

<p>6-year graduation rate, 2002 cohort: 70%. the number posted by usnews is accurate for the 2001 cohort.</p>

<p>sat range: 1180-1350.</p>

<p>percent in the top tenth of their high school class: 49%.</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.northeastern.edu/oir/pdfs/CDS_2008.pdf[/url]”>http://www.northeastern.edu/oir/pdfs/CDS_2008.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>specific feelings about northeastern notwithstanding, i am also strongly in the camp that NO unergraduate school is worth big student debt when there is a viable educational alternative, which rutgers certainly is. i simply fail to see any rational (let alone irrational) ‘reward’ sufficient to justify the kind of risk that taking on six figures of student debt entails.</p>

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<p>Erica i suppose in retrospect i misstated the top ten percentile but heres the link that I was going by. You are correct it is 50%</p>

<p>[Dr</a>. Joseph Aoun - Northeastern University President](<a href=“http://www.northeastern.edu/president/]Dr”>President Joseph E. Aoun | Northeastern University)</p>

<p>Please click the institutional accomplishments tab 2006 - 2008. Slide three under enrollment (As of October 2008).</p>

45

<p>You mentioned you were worried about your son being able to get the good professors at such a big school. I wouldn’t be too concerned… I’ve been able to get my choice in classes almost every semester (there’s always a way to wiggle into a full course), and once you’re an upperclassman you have first pick in courses.</p>

<p>I love NU, but I lucked out in that I’ll graduate with a just small amount of debt and a decently paying job already lined up (it’s not a myth that co-op employers sometimes try to keep you on board after you graduate, I’ve seen it happen to a lot of friends). So, cost hasn’t been a major issue.</p>

<p>I don’t know if it’s worth “BIG” debt… and keep in mind that boston is outrageously expensive. Dorms are very pricey, and off-campus housing in the area isn’t much better. Your son will make some money on co-op, enough to pay rent + living expenses while he’s working, but not much more outside of that.</p>

46

<p>We ultimately picked Northeastern despite its high price tag. Not only did we like the campus, wide array of majors, co-op program, and high-end facilities, but the cultural opportunities in Boston were a major selling-point. </p>

<p>Thank you everyone for your help.</p>

<p>PS
Northeastern>BU</p>

47

<p>Congrats, jerseylady. We have also been researching Northeastern for our daughter, but in International Affairs. It looks like a great match school for her, since we doubt she’ll quite be able to get into Dartmouth. We are military and lucky enough to be eligible for the new post-9/11 GI Bill. The Yellow Ribbon tuition matching program is the only way we’ll be able to afford NE. And the co-op program is struggling right now due to the economic downturn. But at the end of the day, my daughter is excited by this school and its location in Boston. It’s a rising star. We’ll worry about grad school later.</p>

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<p>Thanks for the report, jerseylady. Best wishes.</p>