How should I compare the cost of Northeastern and Yale to decide which is worth it?

Do not assume Yale will cost more based on its published price. Yale provides need-based aid rather than merit scholarships and says it meets demonstrated financial need without requiring student loans, so for many families its net price can be comparable to, or lower than, Northeastern’s. Northeastern may offer merit awards and its co-op model can provide meaningful paid work experience, but co-op earnings should not be treated as guaranteed tuition aid.

Yale fits a student who wants a residential liberal-arts environment, broad access to courses and faculty, and the flexibility to explore before choosing a career direction. Its value is strongest when the aid offer makes borrowing modest: the academic resources, alumni network, and undergraduate experience can be compelling without needing to justify a substantially larger debt burden.

Northeastern suits a student who wants professional experience integrated into the degree. Multiple co-op opportunities can make a résumé more developed by graduation and can clarify whether a field is the right fit. However, some students take five years to complete the program, so compare the full expected cost through graduation, not only one academic year. Include any extra tuition, housing, and living expenses during co-op terms, while treating expected earnings conservatively.

Put both financial-aid offers into the same four- or five-year spreadsheet: grants and scholarships that do not need repayment, required family contribution, federal loans, any parent or private borrowing, work-study, health insurance, travel, and likely annual price increases.

Compare projected debt at graduation against the career flexibility each path gives you. Yale at a similar net cost is difficult to dismiss for a student drawn to its academic setting. Northeastern can justify a higher net cost for someone specifically committed to using co-op strategically and who sees its experiential model as central, rather than incidental, to their education.