Head to head · Massachusetts
Which of these costs less depends on what you earn. At $75–110k and below, Northeastern University is the cheaper of the two; from over $110k up, University of Massachusetts-Boston is. Sticker price shows none of this.
| Household income | Northeastern University | University of Massachusetts | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $30k | $2,264 | $14,070 | $11,806 |
| $30–48k | $2,436 | $13,558 | $11,122 |
| $48–75k | $5,301 | $15,663 | $10,362 |
| $75–110k | $16,241 | $20,885 | $4,644 |
| Over $110k | $47,696 | $25,571 | $22,125 |
Green marks the cheaper of the two at that income. "Net price" is what families actually paid after grants and scholarships, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education — not a calculator's estimate. Public-school figures reflect in-state families; out-of-state families typically pay more.
Why the sticker price is a fiction — and what families actually pay →
What are your student's real admit chances? The math, shown →
Each year's reported net price grown 3.5% — the same method College Compass uses inside a family's plan.
Listed Northeastern University first, then University of Massachusetts. Acceptance rate is the school's overall published figure — your student's own odds depend on their transcript, scores, and high school.
Again Northeastern University first. The four-year graduation rate matters more than it looks: a fifth year is a fifth year of paying.
These are averages. Your family isn't average.
Run both against your student's real GPA, your income band, and your actual high school — odds with the math shown, and what four years would really cost you, side by side. First three schools free.
Northeastern University — every income band · University of Massachusetts-Boston — every income band · All Massachusetts public colleges