You are considered a first-time freshman applicant if:
- You are still in high school
- You graduated from high school or earned your GED, but did not enroll in a degree-seeking program at a college or university
If you took college courses in high school, plan to attend a college summer session immediately after you graduate from high school, or are in a dual-enrollment program (receiving your high school diploma and an Associate’s degree at the same time), you would still apply as a freshman.
If you’re an international student or are applying from a high school located outside of the United States, you should also read the International Applicants page.
Application Requirements:
- Your Common Application or Coalition Application
- Your application must be submitted by the deadline, along with either the application fee ($75) or a fee waiver request.
- Your Secondary School Report and Official High School Transcript must be submitted directly from your high school. Please review “Additional Required Materials” below for further information.
- Optional Standardized Testing: For applicants applying for the 2021-2022 academic year, Northeastern University is test-optional and does not require standardized testing to complete an application for admission.
- Under the new policy, whether graduating from a U.S. institution or an international institution, you will be able to choose whether to submit standardized testing or not. If you do not submit standardized testing, you will not be penalized or disadvantaged. All applicants will be fully considered for admission to Northeastern, including the University Honors Program, and for any merit scholarships.
- If you choose to submit standardized testing, you should submit results from the test, or tests, which best capture your academic preparation and abilities in the classroom. While there is no advantage in submitting results from more than one test, all results provided will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee and factored into your admissions decision. Northeastern will consider results from any of the following:
- SAT (CEEB Code 3667) or ACT (College Code 1880)
- International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma or Higher Level Exams (if you are not a Diploma candidate)
- AP Exams or SAT Subject Tests
- GCE Advanced Levels
- Northeastern will also consider results from over 100 national exams. Please review the Testing Policy Tab for a complete list.
- All students must share the scores they would like considered in their application through the Application Status Check. This allows students the most control over the tests that are attached to their file. Students who indicated they would like to be test optional may not self-report, though you may control your Test Optional status through your Application Status Check. Please review the Testing Policy Tab for additional information.
- Students may change their Test Optional choice (I would like testing to be considered in my application OR I would not like testing to be considered in my application) through the following dates. After these dates, Test Optional preference will be locked in for that round of admission consideration.
- ED I: November 10
- EA: December 1
- ED II: January 10
- RD: February 1
- Non-native English-speaking applicants must continue to submit official results from an approved English Language Test or request a waiver through the Application Status Check. For additional information, continue reading or visit the International Applicants page for our English Language Proficiency policy.
- English Proficiency: All students, regardless of citizenship must demonstrate English language proficiency when applying to Northeastern. You can satisfy the requirement in the following ways:
- You are a native English speaker.
- You will complete 4 consecutive academic years before enrolling at Northeastern in a high school or university where native English was the primary instructional language -AND- you submit an English Proficiency Waiver Request through your Application Status Check portal.
- You submit, along with your application, official test results directly from the testing agency for one of the following English language proficiency tests
- For prospective students applying for the 2021-2022 academic year, Northeastern will also consider results from the TOEFL iBT Special Home Edition and the IELTS Indicator. Results from the TOEFL ITP Plus for China will not be accepted.
- Please see the International Applicants page for more information
- Counselor Recommendation and Teacher Evaluation
- If you are applying to the College of Arts, Media and Design, you may be required to submit a creative portfolio through SlideRoom.
- If you are a U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident or eligible noncitizen applying for need-based financial aid, you must submit the FAFSA and CSS Profile.
- If you are an international student, you must submit the Declaration and Certification of Finances (DCF). Please read the International Applicants page for more information.

Your Official High School Transcript must be submitted to Northeastern by your counselor or another school official. Transcripts should include any final grades from freshman, sophomore, and junior year; first trimester or first semester grades should be sent when they become available.
- Your high school should submit the Mid-Year Report if you were deferred to Regular Decision.
- You will need to provide an official translation for any transcripts which are not provided in English.
- If you are applying from a high school with non-traditional grading policies or narrative evaluations instead of traditional grades, you are required to submit your narrative reports in order for your application to be complete.
- If you have been out of high school for more than one year, you are still required to submit your most recent transcript.
- If you earned your GED, you must submit an official GED score report, along with your high school transcript through the final year you completed.
Advanced Credits
- Freshman are eligible to receive credit from Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) examinations, or from certain international maturity certificate examinations. Learn more here.
- If you received credit for any courses completed at a college or university, you must request for an official college or university transcript to be sent directly to Northeastern.