Northeastern University began in 1898 as a small YMCA evening program for working students. It became Northeastern College in 1916 and officially a university in 1922. The turning point was the creation of the co-op program in 1909, which let students move between classes and paid work experience something that eventually defined the whole school. Since then, Northeastern has grown into a major research university with campuses across the United States, U.K., and more. Today, it’s known for combining strong academics with real-world experience and for extending its opportunities far beyond Boston.