Foundation Year
Northeastern is proud to offer the Foundation Year program to recognize the incredible talent of students in the City of Boston.
Foundation Year students are supported through a rigorous academic curriculum while building community in a cohort model during their first year of college. Students who successfully complete Foundation Year are eligible to matriculate into a degree program in the College of Professional Studies or at one of seven undergraduate day colleges at Northeastern.
“Foundation Year was a great way for me to start college. I felt supported by the faculty and advisers who walked with me through every decision and detail of my first year. As the first person in my family to go to college, I learned so much about being a college student when I was in Foundation Year, and I feel lucky to have had the chance to start in a small program with a team that truly cares about my success.
Yemmy Toribio Infante
DMSB - Business Administration, 4th Year
Foundation Year Program Highlights
There are many advantages to starting at Northeastern in the Foundation Year program. Designed to minimize the challenges that have traditionally hindered student success, the program provides a personalized academic experience with small classes and a 1:1 advising model. The cohort model provides a strong sense of community to students who are all given textbooks and technology to use for classes, and a dining plan that allows them 100 meals on campus during the year.
Foundation Year: Academic Experience
Foundation Year students are enrolled in the College of Professional Studies at Northeastern and can earn up to 32 college credits during the fall, spring, and summer terms of their first year. Courses in Foundation Year are aligned with the requirements of most majors at Northeastern so that students are ready to transfer into the program of their choice after Foundation Year. The team of highly skilled faculty, writing specialists, math tutors, and advisers work with each student to ensure that they get the support they need inside and outside of the classroom to be successful in their first year of college.
Life After Foundation Year
Foundation Year students who meet the progression standards are eligible to transfer to a degree program at one of the seven undergraduate colleges at Northeastern or remain in the College of Professional Studies. Students who do not meet the progression standards and/or would prefer to transfer to another institution have the full support of the advising team to transition to a program that makes the most sense for them.
Tuition, Fees, and Housing
Foundation Year is designed to be accessible to qualified students regardless of family income or ability to pay. Applicants are required to submit a completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and CSS Profile as part of the admissions process. Typically, students have generous award packages that make their first year in Foundation Year affordable. After successfully completing Foundation Year and matriculating into a degree program at Northeastern, either through CPS or one of the seven undergraduate day colleges, students are able to be considered for scholarships and need-based financial aid to make Northeastern as affordable as possible.
Housing is not available for Foundation Year students during their year in the program. After completing Foundation Year, students who matriculate into one of the seven undergraduate day colleges are eligible to apply for housing, but housing is not guaranteed.
Have questions about Foundation Year? Check out our FAQs!
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Students who reside in the City of Boston and meet the university’s admission criteria are eligible for Foundation Year. Graduates from Boston high schools, GED certificate holders who live in Boston, and students enrolled in METCO programs are also eligible for Foundation Year.
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Interested students should apply to Northeastern by the January 1 application deadline using the Common Application or Coalition Application. The Undergraduate Admissions Office selects students who are deemed strong candidates for the university based on academic performance, involvement in their communities, and additional admissions criteria. Students selected for the Foundation Year program will be admitted to Foundation Year which takes place during their first year of college.
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Classes are taught by Foundation Year faculty and are designed to meet core requirements at Northeastern, and/or are courses that are required to transfer into selected majors at Northeastern. Foundation Year students only take courses with other members of their cohort which are taught by dedicated Foundation Year faculty.
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Students can continue at the College of Professional Studies if they have a GPA above a 2.0. They will pursue their degree in this open-access college in Northeastern.
Students can transfer to one of the seven undergraduate day programs at Northeastern’s Boston campus if they meet the following progression standards: Obtain a 3.0 GPA at the end of the year with no grades below C in the fall term and no grades below B- in the spring and summer terms. The undergraduate colleges include:
- Bouvé College of Health Sciences
- College of Art, Media & Design
- College of Engineering
- College of Social Science and Humanities
- College of Science
- Khoury College of Computer Science
- D’Amore McKim School of Business
If a student decides Northeastern is not for them, our advisors are happy to assist them in pursuing other options.
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The Foundation Year faculty are committed to helping students be successful in their first year of college and work alongside the advising team to provide students with holistic support.
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Applicants are required to submit a completed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and CSS Profile as part of the admissions process. Typically, students have generous award packages that make their year in the Foundation Year program affordable.
After completing Foundation Year, Northeastern uses a different funding strategy to award financial aid. It is likely that financial aid will look different for students in the years after Foundation Year. Students are eligible for many scholarships and loans in order to make Northeastern as affordable as possible after Foundation Year.
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Foundation Year students are not eligible for housing during their time in the program.
Students who complete Foundation Year and continue at one of the seven undergraduate day colleges are considered transfer students. As such, students can apply for housing, but it is not guaranteed.
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The credits earned through Foundation Year are able to be considered for transfer to another degree program. If a student transfers to another institution, it is at the discretion of the new institution whether they accept the Foundation Year credits from Northeastern.
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To be considered for Foundation Year, students must apply to Northeastern using the Common Application or Coalition Application by the January 1deadline. Students must submit a complete application, including all supplemental materials and all financial aid documents. Applicants will be notified of their admission decision by April 1.
Have questions? Contact us at foundationyear@northeastern.edu.