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.

You are considered a transfer applicant if:

• You will have completed at least 12 semester hours of college-level coursework (after your high school graduation).
• You have attempted at least one semester of full-time coursework and maintained enrollment through the add/drop period.
• You already received your bachelor’s degree from another college or university but you are choosing to apply for a second bachelor’s degree.

If you are currently in a dual-enrollment program, earning your high school diploma and an Associate’s degree at the same time, you should apply as a freshman. Dual-enrollment courses can be considered for transfer credit.

If you’re an international student or are applying from a college or university 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.
• Academic Records:
  • Your College Report must be submitted by the Registrar’s office or Dean’s office at your current or most recent college/university.
  • Your college or university transcripts must be submitted directly to Northeastern from all colleges and universities which you previously attended.
  • Your official final high school transcript must be sent directly from your high school.
  • Please review “Additional Required Materials” below for further information.
• An Academic Evaluation must be sent by a college professor, academic advisor, or employer.
• Optional Standardized Testing: For applicants applying for the 2022-2023 academic year, Northeastern University is test-optional and does not require standardized testing to complete an application for admission. Please review our Testing Policy for more information.
  • In recent years, Northeastern has required standardized testing from transfer applicants who have not completed more than one year of full-time college coursework (24 or more college credits) following high school graduation. Standardized testing was not required from transfer applicants who’ve either completed more than one year of full-time college coursework (24 or more college credits) following high school graduation or graduated from high school more than 5 years ago.

• 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:
    • C1 Advanced
    • C2 Proficiency
    • Duolingo English Test
    • IELTS Academic
    • PTE Academic
    • TOEFL iBT(CEEB Code: 3667)
    • 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

• 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.

At Northeastern, we understand that homeschool applicants come from a variety of academic backgrounds and structures, and carefully consider every element of the application through our holistic review. In order to best consider our homeschool applicants, we require additional documents that provide an in-depth look at your individual homeschool experience. Please see a list of these additional requirements below.

Forms:

• Completed Homeschool Application Form
• Academic portfolio and transcript consistent with state guidelines
  • Please provide grading rubric alongside transcript

Standardized Tests:

• SAT/ACT Testing: Northeastern has a standardized test-optional policy for students applying for the 2021-2022 academic year. Under the new policy, applicants are not required to submit standardized test scores, but have the option to do so if they choose.

School Counselor and Teacher Recommendations:

• Your counselor recommendation may come from a parent or a primary instructor
• Teacher recommendations may come from a tutor, online teacher, or teacher from a course taken outside the home. We are flexible based on the structure of your homeschool experience
• An additional letter of recommendation is recommended, but not required.*
  • *if your teacher and counselor are the same person, an additional letter of recommendation is required.
  • Additional recommendations can come from an art teacher, an employer, a coach, etc.

If you have specific questions regarding the application process as a homeschooled student, please direct them to Admission Counselor Jared Stone (j.stone@northeastern.edu).

For the 2022-2023 academic year, Northeastern University is test-optional and does not require applicants to submit standardized testing to be considered for admission.

• All complete applications will be fully considered for admission to Northeastern.
• If you choose to apply without standardized testing, you will not be penalized or disadvantaged.
• If you choose to submit standardized testing, you may submit the SAT (CEEB Code 3667) ACT (College Code 1880) or both. Northeastern super-scores and will only consider your best score between the two types of tests.
• All applicants from US and international high schools will be able to choose to submit standardized testing (SAT or ACT) or not.
• 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 please visit the International Applicants page for our English Language Proficiency policy.

Please review frequently asked questions regarding our standardized testing policy.