Northeastern in the Northwest: How do we fit in?

From time to time, I am asked, “How does Northeastern University fit in the Pacific Northwest?”  Aside from possible campus confusion (we are the Huskies after all!), it is important to understand the role Northeastern-Seattle plays in Washington State and the Greater Seattle region.

Washington State is blessed with many excellent institutions of higher education.  It has 39 community colleges, many of which are a starting place for students bound for four-year institutions like Washington State University (WSU) and the University of Washington (UW).  WSU and UW are both top-notch research universities, setting the bar high in areas like health care research, technology, as well as agricultural and aviation research. Our state also has many fine private colleges and universities, such as Gonzaga, Seattle University and Seattle Pacific University, all invested heavily in fueling tomorrow’s economy with top-notch talent.  As one of the newer institutions in town with similar values and goals as our peers, we are working collaboratively with many of these schools to collectively enhance and support our region’s educational ecosystem.

But what sets Northeastern apart from the rest?

Our booming state and Seattle economies have created an immense demand for well-trained graduates, particularly those in the STEM fields. Traditionally, higher education institutions have been ill-equipped to keep up with the demand and help fill that gap. Well, challenge accepted! Enter Northeastern University. In answering this call, we have carefully designed programs and partnerships that yield the best possible outcomes both for students and the companies that eventually employ them. You can read about one of those solutions, our ALIGN Program, here .

In the field of computer science, the state currently produces 196 graduates with a MS in Computer Science each year.  Within a year Northeastern will be adding 40+ MS Computer Science graduates, and will materially increase the total number of highly trained graduate students in this high demand field.

Our home in South Lake Union is the logical place for our campus, as it makes it easy to draw students who are working professionals, recruit adjunct faculty to supplement our academic programs, and place our students in experiential learning internships or co-ops at any of the companies in this area and region. Over time, we anticipate that our campus will serve as a conduit for additional research, partnering Northeastern faculty and researchers with innovative thinkers and researchers throughout Washington State.

I talk about these items in this video excerpt with Steve Scher.

Dean Washburn