FAQs
What is Foundation Year?
Foundation Year is an innovative first-year college for high school graduates and students holding GED completion certificates who live in Boston. The program seeks students who would like to pursue a college education and would benefit from a comprehensive program featuring rigorous academics, career exploration and wraparound support services including advising, tutoring, mentoring, social networking, and work ready skills.
How does the admissions process work?
Students first submit their completed application and required documentation. Students will then be notified if they are selected for a personal interview and a skills assessment.
Final admission decisions will be announced in April.
How important are grades to the admissions process?
While grades will be considered in the application process, admissions will also conduct a comprehensive review of each applicant’s motivation, commitment to earning a college degree, and high school attendance records.
How do students apply for the program?
In order to apply to Foundation Year, students must:
- Complete the Foundation Year application which includes a personal essay.
- Submit:
- Official high school transcript(s) and/or GED report.
- Guidance Counselor Report, including the student's senior year attendance records
- Teacher Letter of Recommendation
- Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
For Foundation Year candidates, there are no SATs required and there are no application fees.For more information about applying to Foundation Year, see the How to Apply section of this website.
What is Northeastern University looking for in a Foundation Year student?
To be considered for Foundation Year, students must be:
• High school graduates and students holding GED Completion certificates who live in Boston
• Motivated and willing to work hard to achieve their goals and earn a college degree
• Willing to commit to a full-time experience
Do Foundation Year students live on Northeastern University’s campus?
No. Foundation Year is a commuter program. Students will be fully enrolled as students in the College of Professional Studies at Northeastern University. Foundation Year students, take classes on campus, and have access to on-campus amenities.
Do Foundation Year students take classes with other Northeastern University students?
Foundation Year classes will be held on Northeastern’s campus, but students complete the year-long program in classes with other Foundation Year students.
What happens at the end of Foundation Year?
Upon successful completion of the program, Foundation Year students may be eligible to:
• Continue full-time at Northeastern in an associate or bachelor’s degree program at the College of Professional Studies.
• Transfer to another college at Northeastern University if the student meets the specific college's admission criteria.
• Transfer credits to another college or university and enroll full time in an associate or bachelor’s degree program.
• Continue degree pursuits on a part-time basis and transition directly into the workplace.
How much does Foundation Year cost?
The 2010-11 tuition costs for the Foundation Year program were approximately $16,000. Final costs for the 2011-2012 academic year will be approved by the Board of Trustees later this spring.The actual cost of delivering this program is significantly higher than the stated tuition, however, those costs are not being passed onto students. In fact, depending on evidence of need (as determined by the Free Application for Federal Student Aid – FAFSA) many students will not have any out-of-pocket costs for tuition. This will be achieved through a combination of federal grants, state financial aid, and scholarships. All Foundation Year applicants are required to submit a completed the FAFSA form as part of the admission requirements so that we can maximize aid and ensure minimal overall cost to the student.
Who can I contact with questions about Foundation Year?
Questions about Foundation Year can be directed to
foundationyear@neu.edu or 617.373.2200.