Foundation Year

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. 

Interested students should apply to Northeastern by the January 1 application deadline using the Common Application or Coalition Application. Students eligible for the Foundation Year program may nominate themselves within their Application Status Check portal or be nominated by a school professional. The Undergraduate Admissions Office considers all eligible students for the program and selects students who are deemed strong candidates for the university based on academic performance, involvement in their communities, and additional admissions criteria. All undergraduate applicants will receive a decision letter from Northeastern by April 1. 

Students take courses that meet core, major-specific, and elective requirements at Northeastern. These credits are eligible for transfer if a student chooses to continue their degree at Northeastern after completing the program. Foundation Year utilizes a cohort model, allowing students to take classes together taught by dedicated faculty members.  

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.  

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. 

Foundation Year students are not eligible for housing during their time in the program, and most will live at home and commute to campus each day. After completing Foundation Year, students may continue to live at home, or may choose to live in an off-campus apartment.

Credits earned during Foundation Year are eligible to transfer to a student’s second year as they matriculate into their undergraduate degree program. If a student transfers to another institution, their Foundation Year credits will be eligible for transfer at the discretion of the new institution.  

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. 

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 

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 make their next steps.