That acceptance rate was unusually low last year because they had over enrolled the previous year and had to cut down the class size drastically. Should have been 10-12 points higher. Still a crazy low number for NEU, I agree. They’ve done a fantastic marketing job over the past decade to attract applicants from all over. They combine that with fee waivers and no supplemental essays to increase the number of applications.
You’re absolutely right - and these schools know it. Lowering the acceptance rate makes a school look more attractive because people associate “highly selective” with “great school”. 