Northeastern University (NU), is a private, secular, coeducational research university in Boston, Massachusetts. Northeastern has eight colleges and offers undergraduate majors in 65 departments. At the graduate level, the university offers more than 125 programs and awards masters, doctoral, and professional degrees.

Founded in 1898, Northeastern describes itself as a leader in interdisciplinary research, urban engagement, and the integration of classroom learning with real-world experience. The university is the home of more than 35 specialized research and education centers. Northeastern is classified as a RU/H institution (high research activity) by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Northeastern's faculty members have garnered international recognition:. Several Guggenheim Fellows are currently or have been previously associated with Northeastern. Among Northeastern's other distinguished faculty are a MacArthur Foundation "Genius Award" winner, a former Democratic nominee for President of the United States, and a Pulitzer Prize winner. In 2012, Northeastern received 44,189 applications for the 2,800 seats of the fall freshman class, a new record increasing from what already was the largest for any private university in the United States in 2011.