Northeastern University Pre-College Programs Architecture in Action

Classes run from about 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays, while evenings and weekends are for dinner and optional social activities. In Northeastern's sample schedule, the day starts with breakfast at 7:30 a.m., and on three mornings in the first week a Representation Tactics session leads into a drawing exercise or a lecture on urban design strategy. After lunch come campus building investigations, modeling exercises or an afternoon field trip, and the first week closes with design proposal presentations on Friday afternoon.

The second week moves on to Representation Labs, Building Strategies sessions, a second modeling exercise and another field trip, with final presentations on the last Friday morning before move-out. You should also expect some work outside class hours, usually group projects with other students. Northeastern says the schedule is only illustrative and may change.

Northeastern doesn't name the instructor for this program, but says most of its pre-college programs are led by Northeastern faculty, supported by other faculty, instructors or graduate students, and current Northeastern students may help as teaching assistants. A typical program has 15 to 30 students, and Northeastern says the small groups allow for personal attention from faculty. All of the pre-college programs are overseen by Northeastern's Accelerate Pre-College team, led by Senior Director Liz Quinn.

Applicants should be rising juniors or seniors in high school by the time the program starts. Beyond that, Northeastern reviews applications holistically, the way its undergraduate admissions office does, giving academics and extracurriculars equal weight. The application asks for an unofficial transcript or report cards and a personal statement of up to 250 words on your interest in the subject, why you want to enroll and what you hope to gain, while naming a teacher or counselor as a reference is optional.

International students are welcome, but Northeastern doesn't sponsor student visas for non-credit programs like this one, so you'll need to be able to travel to the US and attend without the university's help with a visa. Everyone is expected to live in the residence hall, even students who live nearby, and commuting may be possible only as an exception for serious medical or personal reasons.

The total is $6,995, which covers tuition, course materials, housing, meals and social activities for the 12 days. Getting to and from Oakland isn't on that list, and you'll also need health or travel health insurance that covers you there for the whole program, plus a personal laptop, which Northeastern says most programs require.

Once you're admitted, a non-refundable deposit of 20% of tuition after any aid or discounts holds your place, which comes to $1,399 at the full price (20% of $6,995). The rest is due by 1 May 2027. There's no formal payment plan, although Northeastern asks families who need more time to get in touch, and families have paid with 529 college savings funds in the past, so check with your plan provider.

Every admitted student is considered for need-based aid, usually given as a scholarship or a discount, and you apply for it inside the program application by giving your family's adjusted gross income and number of dependents. The award comes with your admissions decision, so you'll know your real price before the deposit is due. International students are considered too. Children of benefits-eligible Northeastern faculty and staff get 33% off, and some partner high schools and community organizations sponsor students.

Applications go through Northeastern's Accelerate Pre-College admissions page.

1. 1

   Submit the online application once it opens in early December 2026, by the priority deadline of 15 January 2027, the regular deadline of 28 February 2027 or the late deadline of 15 March 2027, each at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

2. 2

   Watch your email for a decision, which arrives in early February for the priority round, mid-March for the regular round and early April for the late round.

3. 3

   If you're admitted, pay the deposit by 18 February, 1 April or 15 April 2027 depending on your round, and do it quickly, since Northeastern admits more students than it has places and programs usually fill before the deposit deadline.

4. 4

   Pay the remaining tuition by 1 May 2027 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

Students live in a residence hall on Northeastern's Oakland campus, with Student Life staff, both professionals and current Northeastern students, living in the same building. Everyone has to be inside the hall by 9:00 p.m. each night. Outside curfew hours you can explore the campus, while trips into Oakland and the wider Bay Area are chaperoned, and parents or guardians can submit a leave request if they want you to leave campus on your own.

The program opens with orientation and welcome events. You can list allergies and dietary needs on the program form, and staff work with the university's dining service to meet them as far as they can. Families wanting academic, disability, religious or other accommodations should email the pre-college team before enrolling.