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 37 programs with available earnings data.
#7 nationally
$143K 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 119K on average, with 4 programs ranking in the national Top 10.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | #7 | $163,708★ | $41,839 | 483 |
| Computer Engineering. | #21 |
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
| $135,416 |
| — |
| 114 |
| Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering. | #18 | $118,150 | — | 87 |
| Engineering, Other. | #2 | $112,019 | — | 162 |
| Industrial Engineering. | #7 | $111,430 | — | 84 |
| Chemical Engineering. | #13 | $107,767 | $22,694 | 86 |
| Mechanical Engineering. | #32 | $103,384 | $52,972 | 275 |
| Civil Engineering. | #9 | $100,613 | — | 89 |
Business & Economics graduates earn 119K on average, with 2 programs ranking in the national Top 10.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| International Business. | #2 | $125,162★ | — | 113 |
| Business/Commerce, General. | #2 | $113,620 | $47,942 | 957 |
Health graduates earn 99K on average, with 3 programs ranking in the national Top 10.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration. | #1 🏆 | $142,985★ | — | 66 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | #235 | $91,003 | $44,000 | 116 |
| Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions. | #1 🏆 | $81,320 | — | 60 |
| Health and Medical Administrative Services. | #3 | $80,233 | $29,267 | 163 |
Sciences & Mathematics graduates earn 85K on average, with 1 program ranking in the national Top 10.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics. | #12 | $125,084★ | — | 88 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology. | #2 | $90,612 | — | 82 |
| Chemistry.Small sample | #13 | $88,364 | — | 18 |
| Biology, General. | #30 | $78,327 | $43,257 | 125 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences. | #14 | $74,617 | — | 118 |
| Physics. | #49 | $74,200 | — | 27 |
| Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences. | #14 | $65,551 | — | 49 |
Social Sciences & Policy graduates earn 74K on average, with 1 program ranking in the national Top 10.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Economics. | #54 | $101,423★ | — | 160 |
| International Relations and National Security Studies. | #26 | $74,816 | — | 51 |
| Political Science and Government. | #81 | $73,539 | — | 139 |
| Sociology.Small sample | #32 | $69,585 | — | 11 |
| Research and Experimental Psychology. | #24 | $66,130 | — | 111 |
| Human Services, General.Small sample | #2 | $61,152 | — | 18 |
Communications graduates earn 77K on average, with 2 programs ranking in the national Top 10.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Communication and Media Studies. | #9 | $80,191★ | $29,622 | 135 |
| Journalism. | #8 | $74,709 | — | 31 |
Humanities & Arts graduates earn 54K on average, with 2 programs ranking in the national Top 10.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Design and Applied Arts. | #7 | $87,336★ | — | 53 |
| English Language and Literature, General. | #22 | $67,877 | — | 24 |
| Music. | #7 | $60,974 | — | 40 |
| History.Small sample | #244 | $42,682 | — | 19 |
| Fine and Studio Arts.Small sample | — | $35,330 | — | 5 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, General.Small sample | #29 | $27,246 | — | 13 |
Natural Resources Conservation and Research. leads agriculture & environment with 70K in median earnings.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Resources Conservation and Research. | #14 | $70,272 | — | 64 |
Criminal Justice graduates earn 77K on average, with 1 program ranking in the national Top 10.
| Program | National Rank | Median Earnings | Median Debt | Cohort Size |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal Justice and Corrections. | #2 | $77,477 | — | 62 |
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.
