About

About New York University

highly selective privatearts and culture hubstrong study abroadtop social sciences

New York University is a private research university in New York, NY, known for its highly selective private, arts and culture hub, and strong study abroad. With an acceptance rate of 12%, NYU is highly selective, typically enrolling around 6,184 students each year. NYU is test optional; students who submit scores are typically admitted with SATs between 1480–1550, though many competitive applicants choose not to submit. NYU offers merit scholarships regardless of financial need, with awards averaging $44,101 per year; the sticker price of $79,746 may look very different from what your family actually pays.

Admissions

New York University acceptance rate and admitted student profile

highly selective

12%
Overall Accept Rate
3.75
Typical Admitted GPA
1515
Median Admitted SAT
GPATypical admitted range: 3.50 – 3.75 unweighted

Build your free list to see where your GPA lands at New York University

SATSubmitted score range: 1480 – 1550 (test optional)

Build your free list to see where your scores land →

Application Strategy

Strategy tips for applying to New York University

The first 2 tips apply to all applicants. Your personalized strategy requires your profile — build your free list to unlock it.

Essay Strategy
NYU's supplemental essay asks why you want to attend a specific school within NYU, so name the exact program, professors, centers, or signature courses that connect to your goals. Vague answers about New York City or NYU's size will not stand out at a 12% acceptance rate.
Application Strategy
Apply to the specific NYU school or college that is the most genuine match for your intended field, such as Tisch for arts, Stern for business, or Tandon for engineering, because admissions is conducted at the school level and applying to a program that does not align with your profile or stated goals will hurt you.

Get a tailored strategy for New York University. Build your free list to unlock personalized advice on submitting test scores and discover your actual admission odds based on your student profile.

Build My Free List →

Financial Aid & Cost

What New York University actually costs your family

Average net prices by income bracket from College Scorecard data.

Family IncomeSticker PriceEst. Net Cost / yr
0-30k~$80k/yr$17.0k
30k-48k~$80k/yr$14.0k
48k-75k~$80k/yr$16.9k
75k-110k~$80k/yr$32.8k
110k+~$80k/yr$66.9k

Not sure what New York University would cost your family? Build your free SpearMatch list. We show estimated net cost for every college on your list based on your income bracket.

Unlock real pricing for New York University and matching colleges →

Personalize this page

Compare your profile to New York University's admitted class

SpearMatch builds a tiered college list from your actual grades, scores, and preferences — and shows where you stand at every college. Free, no account, 4 minutes.

Build My Free List →

✓ Free forever  ·  ✓ No account  ·  ✓ 1,300+ four-year US colleges

Outcomes & Campus

Student outcomes and campus profile

89%
6-Year Graduation Rate
$65k
Median Earnings (6 yrs)
8:1
Student-Faculty Ratio
31,930
Undergrad Enrollment
New York University Acceptance Rate & Admissions | SpearMatch