Access to the Internet on Northeastern’s campus has a lot to lose and little to gain – that is, in terms of wires.

Computers with wireless Internet network cards are supposed to be able to access Northeastern’s network, NUwave, at 16 locations on campus, according to the university’s Web site. (Unfortunately, the quality of connections in some areas within these sites on campus is sometimes low.)

But is this enough wireless Internet access for a school aiming to hurtle itself into the lot of top-100 schools? No. It’s time for Northeastern to start taking big steps to expand wireless coverage around campus. Other schools in Boston make our wireless access look wimpy.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology: 100 percent, including dorms, according to the MIT News Office.

Emerson College: 90+ percent, including dorms, according to the college’s IT Help Desk.

Harvard University: 77.8 percent, including most dorms, according to the university’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences Computer Services.

Boston College: 77.5 percent, including dorms, according to the Campus Technology and Resource Center

Northeastern University: 60%, not including dorms, classrooms or offices, according to Information Services Vice President Bob Weir.

Huh?

Why isn’t Northeastern higher on this list? And why is it such a problem to have wireless in classrooms?

Weir said speed, cost and security are Northeastern’s three primary deterrents to increasing wireless Internet access on campus.

But demand is demand, and Northeastern should be fully devoted, determined and dedicated to satisfy students on the famous college search.

The Princeton Review is a popular stop for high school students on the prowl in hopes of finding the ultimate college to attend. This week, the Web site, www.princetonreview.com, unveiled a new category for ranking schools: “most connected campuses.”

This is a potential sore spot for Northeastern. The new list is small, with just 25 campuses, so Northeastern should hop on the WiFi bandwagon while it still can in hopes of cracking the list. Expansive wireless Internet access is not yet a common denominator at college campuses, and Northeastern should take advantage of this now before it loses its chance to do so.

Sure, this action will cost money in the near future, but if Northeastern is dedicated to being among the best of the best colleges, it should realize becoming more connected and less wired may be advantageous in the long run.

Northeastern could be known for years as a school at the forefront of the wireless university movement.

Opportunity knocks. Northeastern: Consider opening the door to fewer wires more seriously.