Programs & majors brief

Northeastern University Majors & Programs

Updated

Which majors earn the most at Northeastern?

Earnings differ sharply across Northeastern University's ranked fields four years after completion, separating higher-earning computing and pharmacy fields from moderate-earning engineering and rehabilitation fields. Computer and Information Sciences records median earnings of $163,708 and 483 degrees awarded; Azimuth ranks it #8 nationally in its field among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration posts $142,985 with 66 degrees awarded and an Azimuth national field rank of #1 among nonprofit four-year institutions. Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions shows $81,320 and 60 degrees awarded, with Azimuth ranking it #1 nationally in its field among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Engineering has $112,019 in median earnings and 162 degrees awarded; Azimuth places it #2 nationally in its field among nonprofit four-year institutions.

Major mix · each dot ≈ 1% of completions

Share of reported completions in the bachelor’s programs included here. Each dot represents approximately 1% of those completions. Counts are credentials, not unique students; excluded programs are not zero activity.

  • Business1,070 · 23.9%
  • Engineering897 · 20.0%
  • Computer science547 · 12.2%
  • Biological sciences409 · 9.1%
  • Health professions405 · 9.0%
  • Other1,150 · 25.7%

47 of 47 programs shown

Four-year earnings · first six matching programs
Computer and Information Sciences, General 483 degrees awarded
$163,708
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration 66 degrees awarded
$142,985
Computer Engineering 114 degrees awarded
$135,416
International Business 113 degrees awarded
$125,162
Mathematics 88 degrees awarded
$125,084
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering 87 degrees awarded
$118,150

Each bar is a field’s median. Program size counts degrees awarded, not unique people or the earnings sample.

Compare all matching programs
Reported bachelor’s programs · earnings, program size and field ranks
ProgramDegrees awarded4-yr earningsField rank
Computer and Information Sciences, General483$163,708#8
Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration66$142,985#1
Computer Engineering114$135,416#18
International Business113$125,162#2
Mathematics88$125,084#11
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering87$118,150#18
Business/Commerce, General957$113,620#2
Engineering, Other162$112,019#2
Industrial Engineering84$111,430#10
Chemical Engineering86$107,767#24
Mechanical Engineering275$103,384#24
Economics160$101,423#49
Civil Engineering89$100,613#9
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing116$91,003#156
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology82$90,612#2
Chemistry small degree count18$88,364—
Design and Applied Arts53$87,336#6
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions60$81,320#1
Health and Medical Administrative Services163$80,233#6
Communication and Media Studies135$80,191#8
Biology, General125$78,327#19
Criminal Justice and Corrections62$77,477#3
International Relations and National Security Studies51$74,816#21
Journalism31$74,709#6
Neurobiology and Neurosciences118$74,617#8
Political Science and Government139$73,539#56
Natural Resources Conservation and Research64$70,272#14
Sociology small degree count11$69,585—
English Language and Literature, General24$67,877#19
Research and Experimental Psychology111$66,130#18
Human Services, General small degree count18$61,152—
Music40$60,974#5
Architectural Sciences and Technology26Too few graduates to report—
Architectural History, Criticism, and Conservation small degree count11Too few graduates to report—
Computer Software and Media Applications41Too few graduates to report—
Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management23Too few graduates to report—
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services small degree count12Too few graduates to report—
American Sign Language small degree count7Too few graduates to report—
Cell/Cellular Biology and Anatomical Sciences49Too few graduates to report—
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology26Too few graduates to report—
Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Other small degree count9Too few graduates to report—
Philosophy small degree count9Too few graduates to report—
Physics27Too few graduates to report—
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft small degree count16Too few graduates to report—
Visual and Performing Arts, General small degree count13Too few graduates to report—
Fine and Studio Arts small degree count5Too few graduates to report—
History small degree count19Too few graduates to report—

Program data and definitions · How to evaluate program rankings

What are the largest programs at Northeastern?

Ten largest programs by degrees awarded
Business/Commerce, General
957
Computer and Information Sciences, General
483
Mechanical Engineering
275
Health and Medical Administrative Services
163
Engineering, Other
162
Economics
160
Political Science and Government
139
Communication and Media Studies
135
Biology, General
125
Neurobiology and Neurosciences
118

Counts describe degrees awarded in the reporting period, not current enrollment. Program data and definitions

How do Northeastern majors rank nationally?

National program rankings

  1. Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Administration#1
  2. Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions#1
  3. Engineering, Other#2
  4. Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology#2
  5. Business/Commerce, General#2
  6. International Business#2
  7. Criminal Justice and Corrections#3
  8. Music#5
  9. Journalism#6
  10. Design and Applied Arts#6
  11. Health and Medical Administrative Services#6
  12. Communication and Media Studies#8
  13. Computer and Information Sciences, General#8
  14. Neurobiology and Neurosciences#8
  15. Civil Engineering#9
  16. Industrial Engineering#10
  17. Mathematics#11
  18. Natural Resources Conservation and Research#14
  19. Computer Engineering#18
  20. Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering#18
  21. Research and Experimental Psychology#18
  22. English Language and Literature, General#19
  23. Biology, General#19
  24. International Relations and National Security Studies#21
  25. Chemical Engineering#24
  26. Mechanical Engineering#24
  27. Economics#49

Programs ranked in the national top 50, supplemented by the largest ranked programs when needed to show ten. Fewer appear when fewer ranks are reported. Each rank compares bachelor’s programs in the same field; field sizes differ.

How Azimuth compares programs across colleges

Further analysis

Outcomes at Northeastern University vary sharply by field of study. Azimuth ranks 29 programs here, evaluating four-year earnings among federally aided completers, median debt, and cohort size rather than reputation.

Earnings data are published for 32 programs, and the figures that follow cover completers four years after completion. The degree mix is concentrated in three families.

Business accounts for 23.9% of bachelor's degrees awarded, followed by Engineering at 20.0% and Computer & Information Sciences at 12.2%. The largest single program, Business/Commerce, awards 957 degrees a year and ranks #2 nationally in its field.

Computer and Information Sciences is both the second-largest and the highest-earning large program, with a median of $163,708 and a national rank of #8. Award counts here are degrees conferred in one academic year, not distinct students.

Mechanical Engineering rounds out the largest programs with 275 degrees awarded and a median of $103,384 four years after completion, ranking #24 in its field.

Data & methodology

Sources and reporting periods: methodology.

Analysis and methodology by Daniel Rogers, founder of College Azimuth.

Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source.

Figure notes link to sources and limitations. About College Azimuth.