Merit Scholarships

In addition to its generous need-based financial aid program, Northeastern University awards merit scholarships to select students. All first-year applicants who apply for undergraduate admission to Northeastern no later than the Regular Decision deadline of January 1 are considered for merit scholarships which range in amount.

All fall first-year students admitted to Northeastern University London are considered for the Achievement Award in recognition of outstanding academic achievement and our expectation of superior performance.

Limited merit scholarships are also available for transfer applicants, including for members of Phi Theta Kappa. All transfer applicants who apply for undergraduate admission to Northeastern by the application deadline are considered.

Students who are admitted to Northeastern and are recognized as National Merit Finalists* or National Recognition Program Scholars** will receive a competitive merit-based award and may also be eligible for financial aid.

Northeastern National Scholarships replace any Honors, Dean’s, Connections, Sophomore Achievement, International Scholars, or other merit awards and may result in a change to previously awarded Northeastern University Grant funds. Please note that students designated as both National Recognition Scholars and National Merit Finalists are only eligible for one National Scholarship.

National Merit Semifinalists or National Recognition Program Scholars in the Northeastern London double degree program are not eligible for the National Scholarship.

*National Merit Finalist Deadline:

In order to be eligible for the Northeastern National Merit Finalist Scholarship, National Merit Finalists must be admitted to Northeastern and should designate Northeastern University-Boston as their college choice (regardless of their enrollment opportunity) to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). To receive an updated scholarship prior to May 1, 2026, students must designate Northeastern as their college choice by the priority deadline of April 9, 2026. Finalists who list Northeastern after the priority deadline but prior to August 1 are eligible for the scholarship; however, they are not guaranteed to receive notification of the scholarship from Northeastern prior to May 1, 2026.

**National Recognition Program Scholar Deadline:
Students designated as National First-Generation Recognition, National Rural and Small Town Recognition, and National School Recognition Scholars are eligible for a National Recognition Program Scholarship. To confirm eligibility for this scholarship, Scholars should submit Recognition Program documentation to Admissions by email ([email protected]). To receive an updated scholarship prior to May 1, 2026, Scholars must submit their documentation by the priority deadline of April 9, 2026. Scholars who submit documentation after the priority deadline but prior to August 1 are eligible for the scholarship; however, they are not guaranteed to receive notification of the scholarship from Northeastern prior to May 1, 2026.

This scholarship program identifies students who have the potential to become agents for positive global change. The program is focused on developing leaders for an increasingly diverse and complex world. Scholarship recipients are selected by the John D. O’Bryant African American Institute and Admissions. For more information, please visit the Ujima website.

Northeastern is deeply committed to working with the City of Boston and our campus neighbors. There are several additional scholarship and grant programs available to Boston students, including:

• The Boston Public High School Scholarship
• The Northeastern Boston Valedictorian Scholarship
• The Boston Housing Authority Scholarship
• Boston Neighborhood Award
• Balfour Academy Scholarship

Learn more about City of Boston scholarship opportunities.

Northeastern is proud of our long-standing commitment to supporting students in the local communities around our campuses. The Northeastern Oakland Opportunity Scholarship will be awarded each year to up to 10 seniors graduating from an Oakland Unified School District High School and Pell Eligible City of Oakland residents. The scholarship will cover full tuition, housing, and meals.

To be eligible to receive the scholarship, students must apply to be a first-year student at Northeastern University by the application deadline and be admitted to our Oakland campus. Each high school may nominate up to four candidates for the award. We encourage you to speak to an educator if you are interested in being nominated. Nominees must have extensive engagement in their local school communities and a commitment to service within the city. Additional candidates may also be identified through Northeastern’s general application evaluation process.

Continuing our storied commitment to educational access, the Torch Scholars Program awards full-tuition scholarships to students who have overcome exceptional odds and demonstrated the potential for academic excellence. The program includes a Summer Immersion Program prior to their first year. Torch Scholars receive funding covering full tuition, fees, housing, and meals, as well as significant personal and academic support. Students must be nominated by a professional who has knowledge of their achievements and character, such as a school counselor, teacher, mentor, clergy, community worker, etc. Learn more.

Each year we are proud to name a small cohort of our most accomplished enrolling students as Stamps Scholars at Northeastern University. Selection for this prestigious program is competitive and invited students must complete a specific application process. Stamps Scholars at Northeastern receive a scholarship to cover the full cost of attendance, access to research, travel, or project stipend, and mentorship and support from the John Martinson Honors Program team. To read more about the Stamps Scholars Program, click here.

Select admitted students will be invited to submit a video application for review and consideration by faculty and staff in the John Martinson Honors Program. The nominees and alternates will be notified of their selection in mid-March to allow time to make an informed enrollment choice by the national May 1 deposit deadline. Students should keep an eye on their email for additional information.