Outcomes-based program rankings.
Program outcomes at Northeastern University vary significantly by field of study. These rankings evaluate each program by post-graduation earnings, debt burden, and return on investment — not prestige or reputation.
Use this analysis to compare programs and understand which fields deliver the strongest outcomes.
Analyzing 41 programs with available earnings data.
#8 nationally
$89K median earnings
recent graduates
This bar shows the range of median earnings across all majors at this school.
The tables below compare programs in each category by earnings, rank, debt, and cohort size.
These sections represent the complete set of ranked undergraduate programs at Northeastern University.
Engineering & Technology graduates earn 98K on average, with 3 programs ranking in the national Top 10.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Artificial Intelligence. | #8 | $132,227★ | $41,839 | 314 |
| Computer Engineering, General. | #14 |
Program rankings are derived entirely from post-graduation outcomes. We do not use reputation surveys, selectivity metrics, or SAT scores. This means some programs may rank differently than you'd expect based on prestige — and that's intentional.
Median earnings 10 years post-enrollment
Debt burden relative to earnings
Institutional contribution to outcomes
Resources, cohort size, and graduation rates
Trajectory from early to mid-career
| $121,329 |
| — |
| 109 |
| Electrical and Electronics Engineering. | #56 | $95,290 | — | 84 |
| Industrial Engineering. | #9 | $95,290 | — | 68 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | #36 | $91,235 | $52,972 | 250 |
| Chemical Engineering, Other. | #24 | $91,084 | $22,694 | 128 |
| Civil Engineering, General. | #41 | $82,584 | — | 81 |
| Engineering, Other. | #9 | $75,253 | — | 64 |
Business & Economics graduates earn 82K on average, with 2 programs ranking in the national Top 10.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business/Commerce, General. | #2 | $91,376★ | $47,942 | 939 |
| International Business. | #5 | $91,133 | — | 140 |
| Business Administration and Management, General. | #47 | $77,773 | — | 115 |
| Banking and Financial Support Services. | #133 | $68,364 | — | 78 |
Health graduates earn 73K on average, with 1 program ranking in the national Top 10.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adult Health Nurse/Nursing. | #137 | $79,142★ | $44,000 | 277 |
| Clinical Research Coordinator. | #2 | $72,627 | $29,267 | 129 |
| Audiology/Audiologist and Speech-Language Pathology/Pathologist.Small sample | — | $67,294 | — | 5 |
Sciences & Mathematics graduates earn 76K on average, with 4 programs ranking in the national Top 10.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Algebra and Number Theory. | #26 | $90,232★ | — | 87 |
| Analytical Chemistry. | #1 🏆 | $88,634 | — | 41 |
| Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. | #3 | $84,199 | — | 58 |
| Acoustics. | #27 | $74,200 | — | 29 |
| Biology, General. | #8 | $73,280 | $43,257 | 101 |
| Anatomy. | #8 | $65,551 | — | 34 |
| Neuroanatomy. | #20 | $59,073 | — | 118 |
Social Sciences & Policy graduates earn 59K on average, with 1 program ranking in the national Top 10.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applied Economics. | #70 | $81,504★ | — | 159 |
| American Government and Politics (United States). | #67 | $65,006 | — | 130 |
| Psychology, General. | #14 | $60,786 | — | 30 |
| International Relations and Affairs. | #38 | $59,965 | — | 78 |
| Behavioral Neuroscience. | #10 | $57,605 | — | 112 |
| Applied/Public Sociology. | #114 | $49,859 | — | 31 |
| Human Services, General.Small sample | #19 | $37,367 | — | 15 |
Communications graduates earn 62K on average, with 1 program ranking in the national Top 10.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Communication and Media Studies, Other. | #9 | $67,761★ | $29,622 | 173 |
| Broadcast Journalism. | #41 | $55,306 | — | 20 |
Humanities & Arts graduates earn 53K on average, with 2 programs ranking in the national Top 10.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial Photography. | #4 | $81,078★ | — | 49 |
| American History (United States). | #59 | $59,299 | — | 20 |
| Art History, Criticism and Conservation. | #7 | $56,337 | — | 22 |
| English Language and Literature, General. | #111 | $48,771 | — | 23 |
| Brass Instruments. | #34 | $45,222 | — | 33 |
| Digital Arts.Small sample | #29 | $27,246 | — | 16 |
Environmental Science. leads agriculture & environment with 51K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Environmental Science. | #55 | $50,604 | — | 66 |
Corrections Administration. leads criminal justice with 60K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corrections Administration. | #18 | $59,550 | — | 59 |
Architectural Design. leads other & interdisciplinary with 66K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Architectural Design. | #16 | $65,680★ | — | 33 |
| African-American/Black Studies.Small sample | — | $32,569 | — | 8 |
Why rankings may differ by program: A university's nursing program and business program can have entirely different outcome profiles. Our methodology surfaces these differences so you can evaluate programs — not just institutions.
