Northeastern University, abbreviated as NU, is a private national research university in Boston, Massachusetts. Northeastern's award-winning campus is mostly located in Boston's Fenway and Back Bay neighborhoods adjacent to Huntington Avenue near the vaunted Museum of Fine Arts and Symphony Hall. The area is also known as the Fenway Cultural District.
Northeastern is perhaps best known for its distinctive "co-op" program, which encourages students to alternate semesters of study with periods of full-time work with co-operative partners in business and industry. In 2003, US News ranked Northeastern #1 for Best Co-ops/Internships. Employers from around the world participate in the program, providing an avenue for internships and post-graduation employment. Employers include top ranked international law firms, banks, and corporations, including many of the Fortune 500 companies such as Microsoft, Disney, and Raytheon. The co-op program enhances the theoretical classroom work with real world experience.
Northeastern has many programs that are nationally recognized. In 2007, the Princeton Review rated Northeastern as one of the top colleges in the Northeast. The undergraduate business school is ranked number 26 in the country by Business Week. Northeastern ranked No. 4 in Forbes Magazine as one of "America's Most Entrepreneurial Campuses." The School of Architecture was ranked #12 by the Key Institute National Rankings.
Northeastern has produced many successful graduates, including top executives, entrepreneurs, scientists, astronauts, entertainers, political figures, and professional athletes. Northeastern graduates have particularly excelled in the high technology industry. For example, Northeastern grads founded EMC Corporation, Lycos, and Cognex. Northeastern grads are also a members of the senior management teams of Analog Devices, Teradyne, Evergreen Solar, and CMGI. In addition, a Northeastern computer science student created the music file sharing program Napster in his dorm room. A Northeastern engineering alumnus is listed on the Forbes List of the World's Billionares.
Admission to Northeastern is highly competitive and very selective, even for a top 100 university. In 2008, the university received over 35,000 applications for 2800 seats in the freshman class. Northeastern is ranked among the top 10 private universities in the U.S. in terms of the total number of applications received.
