<p>I was comparing NEU scores with other schools higher up in the usnews rankings, and pointing out the NEU scores are similar to theirs. I was not comparing NEU year over year.</p>
<p>This is completely subjective, but I think Northeastern will continue to see a rise in applicat quality AND quantity because of the Co-op program. It really seems to be the real deal, and when you consider the circumstances that the current generation hitting college has seen, it really makes sense that Northeastern is on the rise. I have no doubt they will be a top 40, possibly top 30 college within the next 4 years. The stats I think are a sign of that immediate increase while the rank will catch up. The upward trend of Northeastern is supported well in statistics and ranking. Competition may not sit still but its been acknowledged that Northeastern is moving relatively fast.</p>
<p>Average 1600 SAT
2006: 1230
2007: 1251
2008: 1268
2009: 1288
2010: 1309
2011: 1341
2012: 1360
2013: 1390</p>
<p>^Yeah, that’s what they’ve been trying to do with their new Scholars program and ubiquitous merit scholarships. The thing is, is that NEU is a hugely expensive school to begin with (though I believe it is pretty justified, being in the heart of Boston). But if you give a student a merit scholarship: $10k off per year, say; the price let’s say is now $30k for tuition. Other schools the student might apply to will have a $30k tuition to start, so though the net price will be the same, the student feels wanted by Northeastern. Who doesn’t want to go to a school where they’re special and worth merit money? (No offense, as I am one of the students being wooed by a 20k/year scholarship; NEU is not my cheapest option, but I feel most wanted here).</p>
<p>Soon, the applicant pool quality will rise overall and they can save on merit scholarships and Scholars programs and what not, once the words “Northeastern” and “prestigious” are consistently used together.</p>
<p>If national ranking takes into account 4 year graduation rate, NEU is addressing that too. They’re taking strides to accommodate the 4 year coop track by enhancing what had been called the Summer I term offering (will be called NU term or something like that). But this will always hold them back a bit since coop will continue to be the main draw to NEU and the 5 year track allows for 3 coops and a less condensed calendar.</p>
<p>btw, they are expensive but no more so than their competition. If you’re comparing them to state schools then yes, they’re more expensive. But compared to BU, BC, Tufts, RPI, WPI, to name a few, they’re in the same price range.</p>
<p>What private school has a $30K tuition?
My daughter was accepted at NEU 41K, Stevens Institute 42K, WPI 43K and Rensselaer 46K.
Northeastern is the bargain.
It is also very expensive to teach science and engineering classes, because of the cost of the laboratories.
A LAC with mostly humanities lectures, can offer lower tuition.</p>
<p>My D also was accepted at NEU and WPI, but NEU gave her nothing and WPI gave her $20k per year scholarship. WPI is the bargain for us. </p>
<p>That’s a very nice scholarship at WPI-I know a few kids that go there that love it. Congratulations!</p>