History of Northeastern University in Timeline
Northeastern University is a private research university located in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1898 by the Boston YMCA, it initially served as an all-male institute. It transitioned to Northeastern College in 1916 and achieved university status in 1922. Northeastern is known for its cooperative education program, integrating classroom study with professional experience.
2 hours ago : Northeastern University Achieves Record Applications for Seventh Year due to Co-ops.
Northeastern University broke its application record for the seventh consecutive year. The university's co-op programs and global network are key factors for applicants. Surpassing 100k applications for the second time.
1903: Establishment of the first Automobile Engineering School
In 1903, the first Automobile Engineering School in the country was established at Northeastern.
1904: Establishment of Polytechnic School
In 1904, Northeastern established a Polytechnic School.
1909: Launch of Cooperative Education Program
In 1909, Northeastern University launched one of the largest and oldest cooperative education (co-op) programs in the world, requiring all students to meet the cooperative education requirement through employment or study abroad. Most students complete at least one co-op employment placement.
1909: Start of co-operative engineering courses
In 1909, the Polytechnic School began offering co-operative engineering courses to eight students, establishing a four-year daytime program with alternating classroom instruction and practical work experience.
1910: Matthews Arena Opening
In 1910, Matthews Arena opened and became home to the hockey and basketball programs.
1913: Construction of new YMCA Building
In 1913, a new YMCA building was constructed on Huntington Avenue after a fire.
March 1916: Incorporation as Northeastern College approved
In March 1916, after debate and investigation, a bill to incorporate the institute as Northeastern College was passed in the Massachusetts Legislature.
1916: Incorporation as Northeastern College
In 1916, the Boston Young Men's Christian Association institute was incorporated as Northeastern College, marking a significant step in its development.
March 30, 1917: Inauguration of Frank Palmer Speare as first president
On March 30, 1917, Frank Palmer Speare was inaugurated as the first president of Northeastern College.
1920: Authorization to grant degrees in engineering
In 1920, the Co-operative School of Engineering was first authorized to grant degrees in civil, chemical, electrical, and mechanical engineering.
1921: Baseball Team Founded
In 1921, Northeastern's baseball team was founded and has since achieved success in college baseball.
1922: Gaining University Status
In 1922, Northeastern College achieved university status, reflecting its growth and expansion of academic offerings.
March 1923: University secured general degree-granting power
In March 1923, Northeastern University secured general (A.B. and B.S.) degree-granting power from the Legislature, excluding medical and dental degrees.
February 1927: Husky Mascot Selected
In February 1927, a Siberian Husky pup was selected from Leonhard Seppala's kennel to become Northeastern's mascot.
March 4, 1927: King Husky I Arrival
On March 4, 1927, King Husky I arrived at Northeastern in a campus celebration that canceled classes.
1932: All Hail, Northeastern Composition
In 1932, Charles A. Pethybridge, class of 1932, composed Northeastern's university fight song, "All Hail, Northeastern."
June 14, 1934: Campus Design Described as Modernistic Classical
In a June 14, 1934 article, the Boston Evening Transcript described Northeastern's campus design as "modernistic classical".
1935: Addition of College of Liberal Arts
In 1935, the College of Liberal Arts was added to Northeastern University.
October 1938: Richards Hall Construction
In October 1938, Richards Hall, originally known as West Building, was the first building constructed on campus.
October 1938: Completion of Richards Hall
In October 1938, Richards Hall, the first building to be completed as part of the university's master plan, housed classrooms, laboratories, and administrative offices.
1940: Carl Ell President of Northeastern
In 1940, Carl Ell became president of Northeastern University.
1947: Ell Hall Completion
In 1947, Ell Hall was completed as one of the oldest buildings on campus, centered on Krentzman Quadrangle.
1948: Separation from the YMCA
In 1948, Northeastern University separated completely from the YMCA.
1949: Harvey Krentzman Alumnus
In 1949, Harvey Krentzman, a businessman, graduated from Northeastern University. The Krentzman Quadrangle was later named after him.
1953: Dodge Hall Becomes Main Library
From 1953, Dodge Hall's basement served as the university's main library.
1953: Creation of the College of Education
In 1953, Northeastern University created the College of Education.
1954: Cabot Physical Education Center Opening
In 1954, the Cabot Physical Education Center opened, providing various athletic facilities.
1956: George J. Matthews Graduate
In 1956, George J. Matthews, later a Chairman of the Board of Trustees, graduated from Northeastern University.
1959: Carl Ell steps down as president
In 1959, Carl Ell stepped down as president of Northeastern University, after expanding the university.
1959: Carl Ell Leaves Northeastern Presidency
In 1959, Carl Ell's tenure as president of Northeastern University ended.
1959: Student body demographics
In 1959, Northeastern's student body was mostly white males from New England, primarily studying business or engineering.
1960: Matthews Arena Hosts Frozen Four
In 1960, Matthews Arena hosted the Frozen Four.
1960: Creation of University College
In 1960, Northeastern University created University College, now called the College of Professional Studies.
1961: Roger Marino Alumnus
In 1961, Roger Marino, co-founder of EMC Corporation, graduated from Northeastern University.
1961: Purchase of United Drug Company Complex
In 1961, under President Asa Knowles, Northeastern University purchased a 7-acre industrial complex from the United Drug Company to build athletic facilities. Some buildings were demolished, while others were converted into Lake Hall, Holmes Hall, Nightingale Hall, and Meserve Hall.
1963: Federal Depository Designation
In 1963, the Northeastern University Libraries received federal depository designation.
1964: Creation of Colleges of Pharmacy and Nursing
In 1964, Northeastern University created the colleges of Pharmacy and Nursing, which later merged into the Bouvé College of Health Sciences.
1967: Creation of College of Criminal Justice
In 1967, Northeastern University created the College of Criminal Justice.
1974: Increase in foreign students
By 1974-75, the number of foreign students at Northeastern University had increased to 960.
1975: Growth of Black Student Organizations
By 1975, Northeastern University had several black student-led organizations. These included the Afro-photo Society, Student Grill, Health Careers Club, The Onyx, Muhindi Literary Guild, the Outing Club, Black Engineering Society, and the Omicron chapter of Iota Phi Theta.
1975: Student body demographics
By 1975, women accounted for 33% of undergraduates at Northeastern, and 5% were black. Over 900 students were from foreign countries.
1975: End of Asa S. Knowles' presidency
In 1975, Asa S. Knowles' presidency at Northeastern University ended. During his tenure, he broadened undergraduate and graduate offerings, modernized administrative and faculty structures, and increased the number of colleges.
1982: Matthews Arena Renovation
In 1982, Matthews Arena underwent a major renovation funded in part by George J. Matthews and his wife, Hope M. Matthews.
1982: Creation of Khoury College of Computer Sciences
In 1982, Northeastern University created the Khoury College of Computer Sciences, the first college in the United States dedicated to the field of computer science.
1988: Friedman Diamond Named
In 1988, the baseball diamond at Parsons Field was named Friedman Diamond.
1989: Retirement of Kenneth G. Ryder
In 1989, Kenneth G. Ryder retired as president of Northeastern University.
1990: First class with more live-on campus students
In 1990, Northeastern University graduated its first class with more live-on campus students rather than commuter students.
1990: Snell Library Opens
In 1990, Snell Library opened, and the university's main library moved from Dodge Hall.
1991: Financial Crisis and Restructuring
In 1991, Northeastern University faced a significant financial crisis, prompting a new strategy by President John A. Curry to transform the university into a smaller, leaner, and better place.
1995: Improvement in SAT scores and retention rates
Between 1995 and 2007, Northeastern University saw average SAT exam scores increase more than 200 points, and retention rates rose dramatically.
1996: Richard M. Freeland becomes president
In 1996, Richard M. Freeland became the president of Northeastern University, focusing on improving academics and restructuring the administration.
1996: Marino Recreation Center Opening
In the Fall of 1996, the Marino Recreation Center, named after Roger Marino, opened as an indoor fitness center.
1998: Centennial Common Creation
In 1998, Centennial Common was created to mark the 100th anniversary of Northeastern University. This lawn serves as a gateway to the West Campus and a gathering spot for students.
1998: Admissions target set
In 1998, President Freeland set an admissions target of 2,800 freshman per year at Northeastern.
2001: Davenport Commons Opening
In 2001, Davenport Commons opened, providing student housing and affordable housing options, alongside commercial space.
2002: NSF Engineering Research Center Designation
In 2002, Northeastern University's Center for Subsurface Sensing and Imaging Systems was designated an NSF Engineering Research Center, highlighting its prominence in subsurface sensing technology.
2002: Huskies won the Atlantic 10 Conference championship
In 2002, the Northeastern Huskies football program won the Atlantic 10 Conference championship.
2004: Launch of Academic Investment Plan
In 2004, Northeastern University launched a five-year, $75 million Academic Investment Plan focused on undergraduate education, graduate programs, and research centers.
2004: Awarded Gold Medal by Massachusetts Horticultural Society
In 2004, Northeastern University was awarded the gold medal by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society for its Dedham Campus.
2004: Selection as Nanotechnology Research Center
In 2004, Northeastern University was selected by the National Science Foundation as one of six institutions to serve as a center for research in nanotechnology, further establishing its research credentials.
2005: Live Mascot Tradition Resumes
In 2005, Northeastern resumed the live mascot tradition, and the current live mascot is named Moses.
2005: Women's rugby finished third in the nation in Division II, men's rugby won largest annual tournament
In 2005, the Northeastern women's rugby team achieved third place nationally in Division II, while the men's rugby team won the largest annual tournament in the United States.
2005: Underwear Run started
In 2005, the Underwear Run, a Northeastern-sponsored event around fall midterm season, was started. Students strip down to their underwear and run a track around campus and near parts of the city.
2005: CAA Competition Begins
Since 2005, 14 of 18 Northeastern varsity sports teams primarily compete in NCAA Division I's Colonial Athletic Association (CAA).
August 15, 2006: Joseph E. Aoun becomes president
On August 15, 2006, Joseph E. Aoun became president of Northeastern University, following his role as a dean at the University of Southern California.
2006: Residence Hall Proposed
During the summer of 2006, Northeastern proposed a new residence hall at the corner of Tremont Street and Ruggles Street.
2006: International Student Applications
In 2006, Northeastern University received 1,128 applications from international students.
February 2007: International Village Construction
In late February 2007, construction began on a new residence hall complex at the corner of Tremont Street and Ruggles Street.
2007: Improvement in SAT scores and retention rates
Between 1995 and 2007, Northeastern University saw average SAT exam scores increase more than 200 points, and retention rates rose dramatically.
2007: Research Funding Exceeds $78 Million
In fiscal year 2007, Northeastern University's annual external research funding exceeded $78 million, showcasing the institution's commitment to research and development.
2007: Northeastern Club Baseball team won first of three straight New England Club Baseball Association championships
Starting in 2007, the Northeastern Club Baseball team won the first of three straight New England Club Baseball Association championships.
2008: Northeastern Club Field Hockey and Women's Basketball teams won National Championships
During the 2008–09 academic year, the Northeastern Club Field Hockey and Women's Basketball teams each secured their respective National Championships.
2008: West Village Building F Award
In 2008, West Village Building F received recognition in the American Institute of Architects New England 2008 Merit Awards for Design Excellence.
2008: Reader's Digest Safety Ranking
In 2008, a Reader's Digest survey ranked Northeastern University as the second safest school in the United States, following Johns Hopkins University.
2008: Rowing team placed fourth in Intercollegiate Rowing Association Grand Finals
In 2008, the Northeastern University Rowing team achieved fourth place in the Intercollegiate Rowing Association Grand Finals, being defeated by the University of Wisconsin–Madison, University of Washington, and University of California, Berkeley, but ahead of Brown University, Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania and Harvard University.
2008: Shepard Fairey Commission
In 2014, Northeastern commissioned Shepard Fairey, known for his 2008 Barack Obama "Hope" poster, to create art for the campus.
2008: Steady Increase in International Students
Since 2008, the number of international students at Northeastern University has steadily increased by about 1,000 students every year.
November 20, 2009: Northeastern eliminates its football program
On November 20, 2009, Northeastern University eliminated its 74-year-old football program due to sparse attendance, losing seasons, and the cost of renovating Parsons Field.
2009: Northeastern Club Field Hockey and Women's Basketball teams won National Championships; Club Baseball won third straight New England Club Baseball Association championship
During the 2008–09 academic year, the Northeastern Club Field Hockey and Women's Basketball teams each secured their respective National Championships. In 2009, the Northeastern Club Baseball team won their third straight New England Club Baseball Association championship.
2009: Completion of Academic Investment Plan
In 2009, Northeastern University completed its five-year, $75 million Academic Investment Plan, bolstering faculty and improving community relations.
2009: Research Funding Close to $82 Million
In fiscal years 2009-10, Northeastern University's research funding approached $82 million, indicating continued growth in research activities.
2009: International Village Opening
In the spring of 2009, the complex was named International Village and opened later that summer.
May 25, 2010: Club baseball team wins National Club Baseball Association Division II World Series
On May 25, 2010, Northeastern's club baseball team defeated Penn State to win the National Club Baseball Association Division II World Series, earning the national championship.
2010: LEED Gold Certification for Dockser Hall
In 2010, Dockser Hall was the first building on Northeastern University's campus to achieve LEED Gold certification following its renovation.
2010: Grant for Homeland Security Research Facility
In 2010, Northeastern University received a $12 million grant from an alum to establish the George J. Kostas Research Institute for Homeland Security, enhancing its homeland security research capabilities.
2010: Princeton Review Top 15 Green Colleges
In 2010, The Princeton Review rated Northeastern University as one of the top 15 "Green Colleges" in the nation.
October 2011: Charlotte Campus Launch
In October 2011, Northeastern University launched a full-service remote network campus in Charlotte, North Carolina.
2011: Sustainability Grade from Sustainable Endowments Institute
In 2011, Northeastern University received a grade of "A−" from the Sustainable Endowments Institute's College Sustainability Report Card for its environmental sustainability efforts.
2011: Kostas Research Institute Opens
In 2011, the George J. Kostas Research Institute for Homeland Security opened in Burlington, Massachusetts, containing the Laboratory for Structural Testing of Resilient and Sustainable Systems (STReSS Laboratory).
2012: D'Amore-McKim Donation
In 2012, Richard D'Amore and Alan McKim's $60 million donation to Northeastern's business school inspired the Empower campaign.
January 2013: Seattle Campus Launch
In January 2013, Northeastern University launched a full-service remote network campus in Seattle.
May 2013: Launch of Empower Campaign
In May 2013, Northeastern University launched the Empower Campaign with a goal to raise $1 billion by 2017 for student support, faculty advancement/expansion, innovation in education and research.
2013: The Nor'easters Win ICCA Title
In 2013, The Nor'easters, Northeastern's a cappella group, won the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) title.
February 21, 2014: ISEC Groundbreaking Ceremony
On February 21, 2014, Northeastern held its groundbreaking ceremony for the new Interdisciplinary Science & Engineering Complex (ISEC) on Columbus Avenue.
2014: College Prowler Rating
In 2014, College Prowler gave Northeastern University an "A+" rating for the quality of classes, professors, and overall academic environment.
2014: GreenMetric World University Ranking
In 2014, Northeastern University placed first in the GreenMetric World University ranking, recognizing its commitment to environmental sustainability.
January 2015: East Village Opening
In January 2015, East Village, Northeastern's newest dorm building, opened.
March 2015: San Jose Campus Launch
In March 2015, Northeastern University launched a full-service remote network campus in San Jose, California.
2015: Empower Campaign Goal Raised
In 2015, the goal of Northeastern University's Empower Campaign was raised to $1.25 billion.
June 2016: Library Adopts Open-Access Policy
In June 2016, the Snell Library staff adopted an open-access policy to make its members' professional research publicly accessible online.
2016: LEED Silver Rating for East Village
In 2016, East Village at Northeastern University was rated LEED Silver, recognizing its sustainable design and construction.
2016: Toronto Campus Launch
In 2016, Northeastern University launched a full-service remote network campus in Toronto.
2016: International Student Applications
In 2016, Northeastern University received 9,500 applications from international students.
October 2017: Empower Campaign Final Total Revealed
In October 2017, Northeastern University revealed that the Empower campaign raised a final total of $1.4 billion from over 100,000 individuals and over 3,800 organizations from 110 countries.
2017: Job Offers from Co-op Employers
As of 2017, 50% of Northeastern University students receive a job offer from a previous co-op employer, highlighting the success and value of the co-op program.
2017: Ranking as a Top Host for International Students
In 2017, Northeastern University was ranked as the fourth-highest institution in the United States to host international students, according to the Power of International Education's Open Doors report.
2017: The Nor'easters Win ICCA Title Again
In 2017, The Nor'easters, Northeastern's a cappella group, won the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) title for the second time.
2017: ISEC Completion
In 2017, the Interdisciplinary Science & Engineering Complex (ISEC) was completed, providing research and educational space.
2017: Introduction of SAIL App to Honors Program
In 2017, the Northeastern John Martinson Honors Program introduced the Student Assessed Integrated Learning (SAIL) app, which was later retired, as well as a one-credit Honors Discovery course.
2018: Drop in Acceptance Rate Due to Application Surge
In 2018, Northeastern University experienced a drop in acceptance rate due to a record number of applications, making it one of the top ten most applied-to colleges.
2018: Enrollment Statistics for the Class of 2022
In 2018, Northeastern University received 62,272 applications, accepted 12,042 (19%), and enrolled 2,746 freshmen for the Class of 2022, with middle 50% SAT scores ranging from 670-750 for reading/writing and 690-790 for math, and ACT composite range of 32-34.
2018: LEED Gold Rating for Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex
In 2018, Northeastern University's Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex was rated LEED Gold, highlighting its commitment to sustainable building practices.
2018: Club Taekwondo team placed 1st overall in Division II for the 2018–19 Season
In 2018, the Northeastern Club Taekwondo team achieved 1st place overall in Division II for the 2018–19 Season in the Eastern Collegiate Taekwondo Conference.
2018: New College of the Humanities Acquisition
In late 2018, Northeastern announced the acquisition of the New College of the Humanities, a private London-based college.
2019: Lightview Launch
In 2019, Lightview, Boston's first developer-led, equity-financed student housing project, was launched exclusively for Northeastern students.
2019: Vancouver Campus Launch
In 2019, Northeastern University launched a full-service remote network campus in Vancouver, British Columbia.
2019: Designation as an Arboretum
In 2019, Northeastern University's campus was officially designated as an arboretum by ArbNet, making it the only campus in Boston to receive the designation.
2019: Northeastern defeated Boston College to win the Beanpot
In 2019, Northeastern defeated Boston College, 4–2, to win the Beanpot, with Adam Gaudette winning most valuable player and Cayden Primeau winning the Eberly Award.
2019: Pitch, Please! Compete at ICCA Finals
In 2019, Pitch, Please!, Northeastern's treble a cappella ensemble, competed at the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) finals.
January 2020: Roux Institute Announcement
In January 2020, Northeastern announced the opening of the Roux Institute in Portland, Maine, focused on artificial intelligence and machine learning, following a $100 million donation from David Roux.
2020: Acceptance Rate
In 2020, Northeastern University's acceptance rate was 18.1%.
2020: Northeastern beats Boston University in overtime to win the Beanpot for the third year in a row
In 2020, Northeastern beat Boston University, 5–4, in overtime to win the Beanpot for the third year in a row.
2020: Underwear Run officially canceled due to COVID-19 concerns
In 2020, the Underwear Run was officially canceled due to COVID-19 concerns.
2021: Northeastern University Academic Statistics
In 2021, Northeastern University had 3,028 faculty members, offering 329 undergraduate majors and 264 graduate programs. Academics are grounded in liberal arts education with experiential learning, placing nearly 10,000 students annually in paid professional positions.
2021: Antisemitic Vandalism at Hillel
In 2021, the Hillel at Northeastern University experienced an act of antisemitic vandalism when a mezuzah was torn down from the building's rear entrance. This occurred after Hillel's invitation of reformed neo-Nazi TM Garret, who is now a human rights advocate. University president Joseph Aoun condemned the act, but the perpetrator was never caught.
2021: Underwear Run officially canceled again, unofficially organized by students
In 2021, the Underwear Run was officially canceled again due to COVID-19 concerns, but was unofficially organized by students anyway.
July 1, 2022: Mills College Merger
On July 1, 2022, Mills College in Oakland, California, was renamed to Mills College at Northeastern University through a merger.
September 12, 2022: Explosion Hoax at Experiential Technologies Lab
On September 12, 2022, Northeastern University's Experiential Technologies lab was subject to a hoax where an employee, Jason Duhaime, claimed a pressurized case had exploded. The police found inconsistencies in his testimony and discovered that Duhaime had fabricated the event. He was charged with a fine and a prison sentence, and fired from the university.
2022: Application Statistics for Class of 2022
In 2022, Northeastern University received 62,272 applications and accepted 12,042 students for the Class of 2022, enrolling 2,746 students.
2022: Northeastern lost in the Beanpot finals to Boston University
In 2022, Northeastern lost in the Beanpot finals to Boston University.
2023: Undergraduate Acceptance Rate at 5.6%
In 2023, Northeastern University's undergraduate acceptance rate was 5.6%. The university admitted 5,389 students from a pool of 96,327 applicants.
2023: Northeastern won the Beanpot in a shootout against Harvard
In 2023, Northeastern won the Beanpot in a shootout against Harvard.
2023: Opening of EXP Research Facility
The EXP research facility opened for the 2023–2024 school year to support Northeastern's work in autonomous vehicles, drones, and humanoid robots. EXP includes a 15,000-square-foot makers space for students of all colleges and degree levels.
May 2024: Merger Announcement with Marymount Manhattan College
In May 2024, it was announced that Marymount Manhattan College would merge with Northeastern University, to be renamed Northeastern University-New York City. The merger was subject to regulatory approval, which could take up to two years.
May 29, 2024: Marymount Manhattan College Merger
On May 29, 2024, Northeastern and Marymount Manhattan College in New York City announced a merger to create Northeastern University – New York City.
June 14, 2024: Release of Third Institutional Master Plan
On June 14, 2024, Northeastern University released its third institutional master plan, which included the demolition and replacement of several buildings, including Matthews Arena, the Cabot Center, White Hall, and other residential and academic buildings.
October 2024: Student Government Protests "Rooted" Art Piece
In October 2024, the Northeastern University Student Government Association passed legislation to have Cicely Carew's art piece "Rooted" removed or relocated due to student protests over its placement.
2024: White Hall Demolition Plan
As of January 2025, White Hall has been demolished as part of the 2024 master plan.
2024: EXP Research Facility Supporting Research
In 2024, EXP began to be used as a research facility.
2024: Admissions Statistics for Class of 2024
In 2024, Northeastern University received 64,459 applications and accepted 13,199 students for the Class of 2024.
2024: Northeastern won Beanpot in a 4-3 OT win against Boston University
In 2024, Northeastern won the Beanpot in a 4-3 OT win against Boston University.
2024: John Martinson Donates to Honors Program
In 2024, venture capitalist John Martinson donated $5 million to Northeastern's reimagined honors program. The program includes specialty work in a major field through college-specific choices including specialized advanced honors seminars and an independent research project.
January 2025: Demolition of White Hall
As of January 2025, White Hall has been demolished as part of the 2024 master plan.
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