Northeastern rated a standout among the best

Northeastern University was recognized by The Princeton Review for its commitment to sustainability, as well as stellar career services. Photo by Mary Knox Merrill.

For the third consecutive year, Northeastern University has been recognized by The Princeton Review for its commitment to sustainability. In the new 2012 annual college guide, “The 376 Best Colleges,” Northeastern made the Green Honor Roll for its outstanding commitment to campus sustainability through environmental policies, practices and academic offerings.

In addition, the University was ranked No. 2 for Best Career Services, based on surveys of 122,000 students across the colleges and universities.

Northeastern sustainability efforts cited by the guide included the recent installation of 70,000 low-wattage fluorescent lamps that will reduce carbon emissions by 686 tons annually; the design and construction of the LEED Gold-certified mixed-use building, International Village; and “Compost Here,” the University’s aggressive food waste composting initiative.

Students surveyed called Northeastern “an institution that is dedicated to real-world experiences coupled with classroom guidance,” while many students list “cooperative learning” opportunities as the main reason for choosing the school.

Additionally, students raved about the school’s “stellar academic reputation,” with one junior saying, “Northeastern is about equipping students with the academic prowess to have successful careers and dynamic, multifaceted lives.” A political science major says, “Professors come from a wide array of fields and bring their expertise from the outside world to the classroom and then challenge us to do the same.”

Of campus life, a sophomore said, “It’s a city school, but our campus has so much green space.” The student body was described as “more mature than most college students earlier in their careers because of the city environment and the co-op program.” Another person surveyed said Northeastern students come from all over the world, and that “you can’t walk through a quad without hearing at least three languages being spoken.”


Northeastern University’s College of Professional Studies (CPS) is committed to providing career-focused educational programs that are designed to accommodate the complex lives of motivated learners. Offered in a variety of innovative formats, CPS courses are taught by accomplished scholars and practitioners who have real-world experience. The result is an educational experience founded on proven scholarship, strengthened with practical application, and sustained by academic excellence.

Northeastern University is a global university with a tradition of partnership and engagement that creates an innovative, distinctive approach to education and research. Northeastern integrates classroom studies with experiential learning opportunities in 70 countries, and pursues use-inspired research with a focus on global challenges in health, security, and sustainability.