Northeastern University Pre-College Programs Multimedia Journalism Pre-College Program

Weekdays run from about 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Northeastern's sample schedule splits each one into reporting in the morning and editing in the afternoon. In the first week, mornings include a trip to The Boston Globe for its morning meeting and interviews with Globe reporters, and a guest speaker you interview and then write up. Later in the week you cover an event as both a video and a text story and visit newsroom reporters and editors.

After lunch you're in a lab block from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m., editing your text and video interviews. The second week builds toward publication, with a talk on making great videos and another newsroom visit, then a full writing and editing day on Thursday and final presentations on Friday morning before move-out. Northeastern says to expect some work outside class hours, usually group projects with other students.

Evenings start with dinner, followed by optional social activities, and the weekend between the two weeks is given over to optional social programming. Northeastern marks the schedule as illustrative, so the specific visits may change.

Two professionals lead the classes. One is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist from The Boston Globe whose work featured in the Oscar-winning film Spotlight, and the other is an award-winning filmmaker who has directed and produced documentaries for PBS and Discovery Health. Northeastern says faculty assignments can change.

Beyond the two instructors, you hear from award-winning journalists, filmmakers and digital content creators, and you interview recent Northeastern graduates now working in newsrooms around the country. Across its programs, Northeastern says current Northeastern students may serve as teaching assistants.

It's open to rising high school juniors and seniors, meaning students who'll be starting 11th or 12th grade the fall after the program, and Northeastern chooses them through a holistic review modeled on its undergraduate admissions, which gives academics and activities equal weight. The application asks for an unofficial transcript or report cards and a personal statement of no more than 250 words on your passion for the subject, why you want to enroll and what you hope to gain. You can name a teacher or counselor as a reference, but you don't have to.

Northeastern admits more students than it has places, and it says programs typically fill before the deposit deadline, so being admitted isn't the same as having a seat. Your place is only confirmed once you pay the deposit.

The 2027 price is $6,995. That covers tuition, course materials, a room in a residence hall, your meals through a Husky Card and the social activities. On top of that you pay to get to Boston, and Northeastern requires health or travel health insurance for the length of the program. Most Northeastern programs also require you to bring your own laptop.

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, and the balance is due by 1 May 2027. There's no formal payment plan, but Northeastern asks families who need more time to email the team. It also says families have paid with 529 college savings funds before, although you should check your plan provider's requirements first.

Every admitted student is considered for need-based aid, usually given as a scholarship or a discount. You apply for it inside the program application by giving your household's adjusted gross income and number of dependents, and you hear about any award with your admission decision. Some partner high schools and community organizations also sponsor students they select.

You live in a residence hall on Northeastern's campus, where staff live in the building with you and Residential Life Proctors staff the entrance around the clock. Everyone must be back inside by 10:00 p.m. each night. You'll usually have a roommate and share a bathroom with suitemates, and you can request a roommate once you're enrolled.

Off-campus social trips are chaperoned. When students get time to explore a set area on their own, staff name a meeting place and time and encourage everyone to buddy up. Parents or guardians can submit a leave request if they want their child to be able to leave campus on their own. If you have allergies or dietary needs, you list them in the program form, and staff work with campus dining to meet them as far as they can.

Northeastern sets out every round on its admissions page. The priority round is the safest, because a program can stop taking applications after that deadline if demand is very high and deposits are taken first come, first served.

1. 1

   Complete the online application, available from early December 2026, with your transcript and personal statement of up to 250 words.

2. 2

   For the priority round, apply by 15 January 2027 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, hear back by email in early February and pay the deposit by 18 February 2027.

3. 3

   For the regular round, apply by 28 February 2027, hear back in mid-March and pay the deposit by 1 April 2027.

4. 4

   For the late round, apply by 15 March 2027, hear back in early April and pay the deposit by 15 April 2027.

5. 5

   Pay the rest of the tuition by 1 May 2027 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time, whichever round you applied in.