Cost & Financial Aid

Merit Scholarships

A lifetime of hard work and determination pays off. At Northeastern, we recognize the achievements of our most qualified students with a variety of grants and scholarships. These students distinguish themselves as some of the nation’s top creative thinkers, intrepid entrepreneurs, and motivated researchers.

For more information on scholarships, see the Grants and Scholarships page on the Student Financial Services website.

  • In addition to its generous need-based financial aid program, Northeastern University awards merit scholarships to select students.

    Recipients of the prestigious Dean’s Scholarship are awarded up to $28,000 annually. All fall first-year applicants who apply for undergraduate admission to Northeastern no later than the Regular Decision deadline of January 1 are considered.

    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.

    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, 2024, students must designate Northeastern as their college choice by the priority deadline of April 11, 2024. Finalists who list Northeastern after the priority deadline are eligible for the scholarship but are not guaranteed to receive notification of the scholarship from Northeastern prior to May 1, 2024.

    **National Recognition Program Scholar Deadline:
    Students designated as National Recognition Program 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 (nationalscholar@northeastern.edu) or by uploading the documentation through the Application Status Check. To receive an updated scholarship prior to May 1, 2024, Scholars must submit their documentation by the priority deadline of April 11, 2024. Scholars who submit documentation after the priority deadline are eligible for the scholarship but are not guaranteed to receive notification of the scholarship from Northeastern prior to May 1, 2024.

  • 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, new for the Fall 2024 academic year, will be awarded 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, room, and board.

    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 two 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 freshman year. Torch Scholars receive full tuition, fees, and room and board 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 University Fellowship office. 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 department of University Fellowships. 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.

  • Northeastern has partnered with RaiseMe to offer U.S. high school students the opportunity to earn micro-scholarships that recognize their academic achievements and outstanding accomplishments. Students can earn up to $20,000 in micro-scholarships each year, which will be incorporated in their Northeastern University financial aid award.

    There are countless ways to earn micro-scholarships on RaiseMe, including:

    • Outstanding academic accomplishments and achievements
    • Participating in virtual programming with faculty, staff, and current students
    • Taking a virtual tour of campus
    • Participating in experiential learning opportunities—like contests offered through GlobalShala, a non-governmental organization focused on connecting learnings with global educational opportunities
    • And many others!

    Eligibility for micro-scholarships is determined at the time of admission to Northeastern University. Micro-scholarships earned through RaiseMe represent a minimum of grant or scholarship aid that students will receive from Northeastern, provided they apply, are admitted, and enroll. Students may be eligible for additional aid based on their formal application for admission and financial aid application materials. If you have been awarded a higher amount of institutional grant and/or merit scholarship funding from Northeastern University, this grant/scholarship supersedes your earnings on RaiseMe and is not in addition to those earnings. Please note, for students admitted to The N.U.in Program, your earnings on RaiseMe will be distributed between the fall and spring semester of your first year and will be awarded on a per-term basis thereafter provided you meet the eligibility criteria provided on the Student Financial Services website.