Northeastern University Pre-College Programs Engineering Sustainable Cities

Classes run from about 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday, although Northeastern says exact hours can vary a little by program. You move in on Sunday, 25 July 2027, and leave on Friday, 6 August, so the stay includes one full weekend in the city.

Expect some work after class too, typically group projects with other students. Evenings and weekends are for optional social activities. In past summers these have included arts and crafts and giant board games on campus, plus trips for cannoli in the North End, thrift shopping in Cambridge and exploring the Seaport. Meals come through a Husky Card, which works in the dining hall and at campus eateries such as Starbucks and Panera.

Most of Northeastern's pre-college programs are led by Northeastern faculty, with support from other faculty, instructors or graduate students, and current Northeastern students may work as teaching assistants. Northeastern doesn't name the instructor for this program and says its faculty assignments are illustrative and subject to change.

A typical program has 15 to 30 students, although Northeastern says enrollment varies from program to program.

You need to be a rising high school junior or senior by the time the program starts. You don't need any engineering experience, because Northeastern says there are no prerequisites and the faculty will support and challenge students at every level.

The application itself is short. You send an unofficial transcript or report cards and a personal statement of up to 250 words about your interest in the subject, why you want to enroll and what you hope to get out of it, and you can name a teacher or counselor as a reference if you'd like. Northeastern reviews applications the way it reviews undergraduate ones, weighing every part equally, from academics to extracurriculars, and says it's looking for motivated students who are ready for a rigorous program.

The full price is $6,995, which covers tuition, course materials, your room in a residence hall, meals and social activities. Travel to Boston isn't on that list. You'll also need health or travel health insurance for the whole program, and Northeastern says most of its programs require a personal laptop.

To accept your place, you pay a non-refundable deposit of 20% of tuition after any aid or discounts, which comes to $1,399 at the full price. There's no formal payment plan, but Northeastern asks families who need more time for the final payment to get in touch.

Every admitted student is considered for need-based aid, which typically takes the form of a scholarship or a discount on the program. You request it in the application by giving your family's adjusted gross income and number of dependents, and the award comes with your admission decision, so you'll know the real cost before the deposit is due.

Northeastern staff live in the residence hall, and Residential Life Proctors staff the entrance around the clock. Student Life staff, a mix of professionals and current Northeastern students, also live alongside participants and run residential life and activities. Everyone has to be back in the hall by 10:00 p.m. each night.

You'll typically share a room with one roommate and a bathroom with suitemates, and you can request a particular roommate. On off-campus outings, students may get to explore a set area on their own, with staff setting a meet-up time and place and encouraging everyone to pair up with a buddy. Parents can also submit leave requests if they want their student to leave campus independently. Academic, disability, dietary, religious and other accommodations should be discussed with Northeastern before enrollment.

Applications go through Northeastern's pre-college admissions page.

1. 1

   Complete the online application, which opens in early December 2026.

2. 2

   Submit by 15 January 2027 for the priority round (decision by email in early February), 28 February 2027 for the regular round (mid-March) or 15 March 2027 for the late round (early April), each by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time.

3. 3

   If you're admitted, pay the deposit as soon as you can, and no later than 18 February, 1 April or 15 April 2027 depending on your round. Northeastern admits more students than it has places and accepts deposits first come, first served, and programs typically fill before the deposit deadline.

4. 4

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