Is Northeastern worth the higher cost compared with Drexel for undergraduate engineering or business?

For undergraduate engineering or business, Northeastern is not automatically worth a much higher price over Drexel. Both schools are especially known for experiential learning, both have established co-op systems, and both place students into major-city internships and full-time jobs. The deciding factor is less “does Northeastern have co-ops?” and more “how much extra are you paying for the version of that experience Northeastern offers?”

Northeastern tends to make more sense for the student who wants the broadest national brand, especially outside the Mid-Atlantic, and who expects to use Boston heavily during college. For business, that can matter if you want access to a wider mix of finance, consulting, tech, and startup recruiting in Boston plus a school name that travels well across regions. For engineering, Northeastern can be attractive if you value a larger network of employer connections and the possibility of multiple co-op terms that build a more polished resume before graduation.

Drexel is often the smarter value play for the student who wants a very similar hands-on model without paying a premium for Northeastern’s market position. Drexel’s co-op system is also deeply built into the undergraduate experience, and Philadelphia gives strong access to healthcare, industry, finance, and corporate internships. If the cost gap is large enough that Drexel would leave you with much less debt, that difference usually matters more than a modest edge in prestige.

For a student focused on outcomes, the key question is what the extra dollars buy in your specific case. If Northeastern would require significantly more borrowing, I would be skeptical that the name and network alone justify it, especially since Drexel is already respected by employers for practical preparation. If the price difference is manageable for your family and you strongly prefer Boston, Northeastern’s campus environment, or its broader national pull, then the higher cost can be reasonable.

Northeastern can be worth somewhat more, but not dramatically more, because Drexel overlaps with it in the exact areas you’re asking about: co-op, internship access, and career focus. Once the gap becomes big, Drexel usually has the stronger return on investment.