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CollegeRanker
Private nonprofit New York, NY · Urban · Mid-Atlantic · 100% data
A+ Selectivity A Earnings A Diversity
Graduation Rate
88% A
Most students who enroll finish their degree here
Earnings (10yr)
$82,509 A
Top 3% nationally — exceptional earning power
Net Price
$37,050 F
116% more than the typical college
Acceptance Rate
9% A+
Rejects about 91 of every 100 applicants
Earnings +102% vs avg
Graduation +54% vs avg
Net Price 116% vs avg
Mobility Top 5%

Bottom line: A B overall grade — strong outcomes across the board. 15.3× return on investment — every $1 spent returns $15.3 over 20 years. Ranked #3 in Best MBA Programs for General Management.

15.3× return on investment

Every $1 spent returns $15.3 over 20 years — debt pays back in ~under a year. Net gain: $2,126,272.

What The Data Says

  1. A B overall — outcomes above the typical U.S. college.

  2. Graduates earn 102% more than the national college median.

  3. A 88% graduation rate — 54% above the national average.

  4. Social mobility rate of 3.63% — an engine of upward economic mobility.

  5. Admits just 9% of applicants — one of the most selective institutions in the country.

Economic Footprint

Inventor Rate
0.4%
Top 56%
Patents
71
Linked to graduates
World Rank
#60
Times Higher Education
Patent Citations
518
Downstream influence
Research Score
51/100
Times Higher Education

Why New York University Matters

New York University is a private research university in New York, NY ranked #60 in the world by Times Higher Education, and its outcomes are not an accident. They are driven by exceptional admissions selectivity, a top-tier research enterprise, a well-connected, high-opportunity alumni network, and a strong record of moving students up the income ladder. The result: graduates whose earnings land in the top 3% of all U.S. colleges.

Interpretation generated from this school's federal outcomes, research, and mobility data.

Institutional Profile

Institution Type
Private Research University
Carnegie Class
R1 · Very High Research
Enrollment
28,663
Setting
Urban
Primary Strengths
Visual & Performing Arts, Social Sciences, Business & Marketing, Computer Science & IT

Why students choose New York University

Top-tier research university
R1 status: undergraduates work alongside leading researchers
Influential alumni network
High cross-class social capital and reach
Highly selective peer group
Surrounded by exceptionally high-achieving students
Exceptional earning outcomes
Graduate earnings in the top 3% of colleges
Engine of upward mobility
A strong record of moving students up the income ladder
Global recognition
Ranked #60 worldwide by Times Higher Education

CollegeRanker Report Card

Graded on outcomes, against every U.S. college.

B
Top 26% overall
A
Earnings
$82,509 median
C-
Value
2.2× net price
F
Affordability
$37,050/yr net
A
Graduation
88% graduate
A
Social Mobility
3.6% climb Q1→Q5
A+
Selectivity
9% admit rate
A
Diversity
0.81 index

Each grade is this school's national percentile on a real outcome — earnings, value, mobility, and more.

How we grade →

Overview

With an acceptance rate of just 9%, New York University attracts driven students who are ready to dive deep into their passions. This urban campus is ideal for those interested in fields like Visual & Performing Arts, Social Sciences, Business & Marketing, Computer Science, and Humanities. It’s a place where creativity meets practicality, and students can thrive in a vibrant, diverse environment.

After graduation, students can expect strong earning potential, with a median salary of $82,509 ten years after completing their degree. That’s a significant number, especially when you consider the potential for upward mobility in competitive fields. The financial investment in an NYU education often pays off, making it a compelling choice for those who are eager to make their mark.

When it comes to the cost, the net price after aid sits at $37,050, with a median debt of $20,500. This means many students graduate with manageable debt, especially considering their earnings potential. NYU tends to attract motivated individuals who are ready to engage with the world around them and capitalize on the myriad opportunities available in New York City.

Rankings

Can I Get In?

How selective New York University is — and how your numbers stack up.

Tool

Will I Be Accepted?

Enter your credentials to see your chances at this school.

3.0
Test Score
1050
21

Academics & Admissions

Is It Hard to Get Into New York University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in New York, New York, New York University turns away the vast majority of its applicants. The acceptance rate is 9%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,520. The graduation rate is roughly 88%.

Acceptance Rate
9%
Retention Rate
96%
SAT Average
1520
ACT Midpoint
34
SAT Range
1480–1560
ACT Range
34–35
Full-Time Faculty
100%
Faculty Salary (mo)
$18,026
Student–Faculty Ratio
8:1
Diversity Index
0.81
First-Gen Students
21%
Applicants
100,662
Admitted
12,539

Inside the Admissions Office

School-reported Common Data Set · 2024-25

The acceptance rate tells you how hard New York University is to get into. Its Common Data Set tells you what happens once you are admitted: how many students say yes, how many arrived without test scores, and whether applying early tilts the odds. 55% of admitted students go on to enroll here, making it a school more than half of admitted students choose.

Yield Rate
55%
of admits enroll
Submitted SAT
28%
of enrolled freshmen
Submitted ACT
10%
of enrolled freshmen

Test-optional, in practice. Only about 38% of enrolled freshmen submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive here, not a long shot.

Source: New York University's Common Data Set, 2024-25 View the source document on collegedata.fyi →

Can I Afford It?

What you'll actually pay after grants and aid — not the sticker price.

Cost & Financial Aid

How Much Does It Cost to Attend New York University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at New York University is $62,796, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $37,050. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,977 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,500 in federal student loans.

In-State Tuition
$62,796
Out-of-State
$62,796
Avg Net Price
$37,050
Median Debt
$20,500
Pell Grant Rate
18%
Federal Loan Rate
19%

What Families Actually Pay

Family Income $0–$30K
$16,977
Family Income $30K–$48K
$14,017
Family Income $48K–$75K
$16,862
Family Income $110K+
$66,876

What Happens After?

Earnings, debt, and where graduates actually land.

Students Like You

Tell us a little about yourself to see what students like you have typically experienced at New York University — the net price for your income, your admission odds, and the outcomes that follow. These are patterns from federal data, not predictions.

Compare schools in the full simulator →Sources: College Scorecard, Common Data Set, Opportunity Insights · today's dollars (CPI-adjusted) · descriptive, not predictive

Graduate Outcomes

Is New York University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of New York University earn a median of $82,509, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.

6 Years After Entry
$64,543
8 Years
$76,035
10 Years
$82,509
Debt-to-Earnings
0.25x
Earning > $25K
76%

Earnings Trajectory

$64,543 6yr $76,035 8yr $82,509 10yr

Graduation by Timeframe

100% (4,628)
79%
100% (4,628)
79%
100% (4,628)
79%
100% (4,628)
79%

How New Compares

Dot right of center = above national average.

NATIONAL AVGGraduation88%Earnings 10yr$83KNet Price$37KRetention96%Median Debt$21KPell Grant Rate18%

Net Price by Family Income

What families actually pay after aid, by income bracket.

$17K$0-30K$14K$30-48K$17K$48-75K$67K$110K+

The Mobility Equation

Mobility = Access x Success. How many low-income students get in, and how many reach the top 20%?

ACCESS% from bottom 20%6.9%SUCCESS% who reach top 20%52.3%MOBILITY3.63%

College ROI Calculator

Is New York University Worth It?

A data-driven look at the return on your educational investment — using real federal data.

Yes — for most students, New York University delivers a positive return. Over four years, the typical net price is $37,050/year ($148,200 total). Graduates earn $82,509 at ten years, and over a 20-year career we project $2,274,472 in total earnings — a net gain of $2,126,272 (15.3× your investment). The median debt is $20,500, which takes less than a year to pay back at typical earnings. With a 88% graduation rate, the path to that return is well-tested. This is a exceptional ROI compared to national averages.

Total Cost (4yr)
$148,200
Projected 20yr Earnings
$2,274,472
Net Return
$2,126,272
ROI Multiple
15.3×
Cost Per Year
$37,050
Median Debt
$20,500
Debt Payback
Less than 1 yr
Graduation Rate
88%

Does It Change Lives?

Mobility, social capital, and innovation — does it move people up?

Social Mobility

Data: Raj Chetty's Mobility Report Card · 30M+ anonymized tax records

Does New York University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

New York University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.63%, among the highest in the country. About 6.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 52.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $130,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

Mobility Rate
3.63%
Bottom 20% → Top 20%
Success Rate
52.3%
If bottom 20% get in
From Bottom 20%
6.9%
Share of students
Parent Median Income
$177,304
today's $ (2015 cohort data)

Social Capital

Data: Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas

How Connected Is New York University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at New York University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.79, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

Economic Connectedness
1.79
Cross-class friendships
Friending Bias
0.04
Lower = more inclusive
Volunteering Rate
9.1%
Support Ratio
0.99
Community support

Research Note

267%
Low-income students at colleges in the top quartile of economic connectedness are 267% more likely to reach the top income quintile than peers at the least-connected schools.
Data from CollegeRanker’s review of 5,745 U.S. colleges (n=1,503). Quartile comparison of mean bottom-quintile success rate, split by economic connectedness (Opportunity Insights Social Capital Atlas × Mobility Report Card).

Research & Teaching

Data: Times Higher Education World University Rankings

How Research-Intensive Is New York University? World Rank, Teaching & Citations

Times Higher Education places New York University at #60 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 51/100, teaching at 62/100, and citation impact of 83/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.

World Rank
#60
Teaching
62
Research
50.7
Citations
82.9
International
31.8

Innovation & Knowledge Creation

Patents, inventors, and research influence · Opportunity Insights & Times Higher Education

New York University produces inventors at a measurable rate, with 71 patents tied to its graduates, and ranks among research universities with a 51/100 research score.

Inventor Rate
0.39%
Top 56% nationally
Patents Produced
71
Linked to graduates
Patent Citations
518
Downstream influence
Research Score
51/100
Times Higher Ed
Academic Influence
83/100
Citation impact (THE)
Inventors From Low-Income
0.47%
Bottom-20% families

Institutional Finances

Data: NCES IPEDS

Investment Income
$-504,546,000

Top Programs

The fields New York University awards the most degrees in, by share of completions. Where federal field-of-study data exists, we show what graduates in that major earned early in their careers. Each links to its degree guide — or see what someone with your income, scores, and major would pay and earn here in the Students Like You simulator.

Early-career median earnings by major (typically 1–2 years after completion, bachelor's level where available), in today's dollars (CPI-adjusted). Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard field of study. Distinct from the school-wide 10-year median; suppressed for small programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Hard to Get Into New York University? Acceptance Rate & Requirements

Based in New York, New York, New York University turns away the vast majority of its applicants. The acceptance rate is 9%. Admitted students typically arrive with an average SAT score near 1,520. The graduation rate is roughly 88%.

How Much Does It Cost to Attend New York University? Tuition, Net Price & Aid

Published tuition at New York University is $62,796, but few families pay that. The number to watch is net price, what students actually pay each year after federal grants and institutional scholarships. Here it averages about $37,050. Students from families earning under $30,000 typically pay closer to $16,977 after need-based grants. The median graduate leaves with about $20,500 in federal student loans.

Is New York University Worth It? Graduate Earnings & ROI

Ten years out, alumni of New York University earn a median of $82,509, well above the national average for bachelor's degree holders.

Does New York University Drive Upward Mobility? Economic Mobility & Low-Income Outcomes

New York University is a genuine engine of upward mobility. Its mobility rate, the share of students who start in the bottom income quintile and climb to the top, is 3.63%, among the highest in the country. About 6.9% of students come from families in the bottom income quintile. Among bottom-quintile students who attend, roughly 52.3% go on to reach the top of the income ladder. The median family income of students sits near $130,500, a snapshot of the campus's socioeconomic mix.

How Connected Is New York University? Social Capital & Cross-Class Networks

Social capital, the web of cross-class friendships that researchers link to long-run upward mobility, runs high at New York University. Its economic connectedness score is 1.79, where about 1.0 is the national norm. Its friending bias is low (0.04), a sign that students from different economic backgrounds actually mix rather than self-segregate. Around 9% of students take part in civic and volunteering activity.

How Research-Intensive Is New York University? World Rank, Teaching & Citations

Times Higher Education places New York University at #60 worldwide, a mark of serious research standing. Its profile spans a research score of 51/100, teaching at 62/100, and citation impact of 83/100, reflecting both the volume of research output and how often that work is cited by scholars elsewhere.

Is New York University really test-optional?

In practice, yes. Only about 38% of enrolled first-year students submitted an SAT or ACT score, so a strong application without test scores is genuinely competitive at New York University (2024-25 Common Data Set).

What percentage of admitted students enroll at New York University?

About 55% of admitted students choose to enroll at New York University — its yield rate (2024-25 Common Data Set). Yield reflects how often a school wins when applicants weigh competing offers.

Compare New York University

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The State of American Higher Education Outcomes

Every state graded on what graduates earn, how far they climb, and what college really costs — the hidden geography of economic mobility, in one report.

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