Northeastern University Pre-College Programs Bioengineering Immersion

Classes run from about 9:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday, and evenings and weekends are for social activities. Northeastern's sample schedule, which dates from 2023 and is subject to change, shows weekdays starting with breakfast and a short "Frame the Day" session, followed by a morning instructional block and afternoon lab blocks, some of which run into the early evening.

Week 1 starts with move-in on Sunday, followed by orientation, training in the wet lab and in the SolidWorks and Mimics software, lab tours and an introduction to the group project. Week 2 adds engineering design activities, a company visit, a panel of current bioengineering students and time to prepare your group project, which you present on the final Friday morning before move-out. Evenings are for dinner and optional social activities. Northeastern also says to expect some work outside class, usually group projects with other students.

Northeastern staff live in the residence hall with students, Residential Life Proctors staff the building entrance around the clock, and everyone must be inside by 10:00 pm. You'll usually share a room with one roommate, whom you can request, and share a bathroom with suitemates.

To leave campus alone, a parent or guardian has to submit a leave request. On program social outings, students may sometimes explore a set area on their own, but staff set a meeting point and time and encourage everyone to buddy up. Meals come through a Husky Card for the dining hall and campus eateries, and staff work with NU Dining on allergies and dietary needs.

You leave with a Recognition of Completion signed by a faculty member, but no college credit and no transcript. The rest of the value is in the work itself: fabricating prototypes with advanced manufacturing techniques, writing design proposals, developing a commercialization proposal for a new idea and presenting a group project. You also get an inside view of an undergraduate bioengineering department, including the student panel on co-ops and courses.

You need to be a rising junior or senior in high school by the time the program starts, and you don't need any background in bioengineering. Northeastern reviews applications the way its undergraduate admissions office does, weighing your academics, activities and everything else equally.

The application asks for an unofficial transcript or report cards and a personal statement of no more than 250 words on why the subject excites you, why you want to enroll and what you hope to gain. You can also name a teacher or counselor as a reference, but that's optional.

Tuition is $6,995 and covers instruction, course materials, your residence hall room, meals and social activities. On top of that, every student needs health or travel health insurance that covers them in Boston for the whole program, and most of Northeastern's programs require a personal laptop.

All admitted students are considered for need-based aid, which usually comes as a scholarship or a discount. You apply for it within the program application by giving your family's adjusted gross income and number of dependents, and any award arrives with your admissions decision. Children of benefits-eligible Northeastern faculty or staff get 33% off, and some partner schools and community organizations sponsor students.

There's no formal payment plan, but Northeastern asks families who need more time for the final payment to get in touch. Families have paid with 529 college savings plans in the past, although you should check your plan provider's requirements first.

Aim for the priority round if you can. Northeastern admits more students than it has places, and a popular program can stop taking applications after the priority deadline.

1. 1

   Start the online application when it opens in early December 2026.

2. 2

   Submit it by the priority deadline of 15 January 2027, the regular deadline of 28 February 2027 or the late deadline of 15 March 2027, all at 11:59 pm Eastern Time.

3. 3

   Decisions and any financial aid offer arrive by email in early February, mid-March or early April, depending on your round.

4. 4

   Pay the non-refundable deposit of 20% of tuition (after aid and discounts) by 18 February, 1 April or 15 April 2027, and pay early, because places go first come, first served and programs usually fill before the deposit deadline.

5. 5

   Pay the rest of the tuition by 1 May 2027.