“A historic women's liberal arts college reimagined through Northeastern's global university network, rooted in Oakland's spirit of social justice and art.”
Mills College at Northeastern University represents the merger of two distinguished institutions: Northeastern University, one of the nation's leading research and experiential learning universities, and Mills College, a pioneering women's liberal arts institution founded in 1852 and among the oldest colleges on the West Coast. Following a formal merger completed in June 2022, the institution now operates on Mills' original 135-acre campus in the Oakland foothills, overlooking San Francisco Bay. The college preserves Mills' century-long legacy of women's leadership, social justice education, and arts-centered liberal learning, while providing students access to Northeastern's global network of 14 campuses, 280,000 alumni, and 3,600 employer co-op partners. The campus community is intimate by design — with only 464 undergraduates — ensuring small class sizes, close faculty mentorship, and a deeply relational academic environment. Programs span the arts, social sciences, humanities, and sciences, with historic strengths in studio art, creative writing, music, dance, social justice studies, and environmental policy. Students simultaneously access the full resources of Northeastern University, including its renowned cooperative education (co-op) program, which allows undergraduates to complete multiple paid professional placements during their degree. The Oakland campus serves as Northeastern's West Coast hub, positioning students at the gateway to Silicon Valley, the Bay Area's innovation economy, and California's progressive cultural landscape. Mills at Northeastern maintains its founding commitment to women and gender non-binary students while welcoming students of all identities. The Mills Legacy Scholarship Fund specifically supports women and gender nonbinary students in keeping with the institution's historical mission. The campus is known for its vibrant activist, collaborative, and arts-forward culture, with strong emphasis on community engagement, equity, and social change rooted in Oakland's long history as a center of progressive organizing.
Visa, OPT, H-1B alumni outcomes, and acceptance rates by country — sourced from FOIA, USCIS H-1B Hub, and DHS SEVIS.
Test Required — All applicants must submit SAT or ACT scores.
Official SourceEarly Action
Non-binding early action; decision released in December
Regular Decision
Standard admission deadline; decision released in March
The deep admissions playbook beyond the headline acceptance rate — round-by-round breakdowns, nationality data, requirements, and contact paths.
Tuition & Fees (All Students)
$67,778
/yr
Beyond the sticker price — every named scholarship, the financial aid policy, need-aware notes, and a personalized net-cost estimate.
How life on campus actually feels — clubs, sports, traditions, housing realities, and how the school integrates with its city.
Anchored in Mills historic arts tradition, offering studio art, creative writing, music, dance, film, and interdisciplinary arts programs.
Covers sociology, political science, public policy, and social justice studies, reflecting Mills commitment to equity and systemic change.
Offers biology, environmental studies, mathematics, and computer science programs, with access to Northeastern research infrastructure.
Includes undergraduate psychology, child development, and access to Northeastern graduate programs in counseling and education.
Access to Northeastern graduate programs in business, data analytics, engineering, and public policy through the global campus network.
4 years
A nationally recognized studio art program with deep Oakland roots and direct connections to the Bay Area contemporary art scene, galleries, and museums.
4 years
A distinguished writing program offering mentorship with nationally recognized authors, combining craft with social purpose and community storytelling.
4 years
Interdisciplinary study of environmental policy, ecology, and justice situated in the Bay Area's leading community of environmental advocacy and research.
Where alumni go after graduation — top industries, grad-school continuation, and the qualitative outcomes story.
Sticker price (annual, out-of-state): $67,778
Net-cost estimate is US-resident-only — international applicants are typically excluded from need-based aid at most schools and should treat the sticker price as the planning baseline.
