Best Colleges in America 2022
college_name
Prev RANK: 47, Best Selective Colleges Next
Overall Score: 59.28

New York University

New York, NY http://www.nyu.edu/
New York University's primary campus is in Greenwich Village, a coveted Manhattan neighborhood where students can walk a few minutes to grab delicious falafels or crepes, glance at Washington Square Park from their classroom windows, or see which stars are dropping by the Comedy Cellar. NYU's approximately 54,000 students – about 30,000 undergrads,18,000 graduate students and 6,000 students taking individual courses – can choose from a variety of schools and colleges, with the College of Arts and Sciences being the largest (and oldest). You may be most familiar with NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, where students study drama, film and music. The school’s list of notable alumni is dotted with household names, including Spike Lee and Martin Scorsese, and more recently, actress Gina Rodriguez and singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers. The university’s other schools, which focus on business, public service, social work and more, may not boast as many A-listers, but they still draw students from all over the world. The university has over 300 student organizations, among them the Cheese Club and – no surprise here – multiple comedy groups offering fans of improv, stand-up and sketch comedy plenty of options. The school has residence halls all over Manhattan, though many students live on their own in off-campus apartments.

Costs

Est. full price 2022-2023
$79,800
% of students who get any grants
59%
Est. price for students who receive aid
$48,000
Average price for low-income students
$23,580

Admissions

Acceptance rate
16%
Median SAT/ACT score
1440/32
SAT/ACT required?
No
Undergraduate enrollment
26,610

Financial Aid

% of students with need who get grants
94%
% of need met
62%
% of students who get merit grants
6%
Average merit grant
$5,100

Student Success

Graduation rate
85%
Average time to a degree
4.1 years
Median student debt
$20,500
Early career earnings
$76,040
% earning more than a high school grad
78%

Notes: Students who get merit grants are full-time undergraduates who had no financial need and were awarded grants. Graduation rate measures degree completion within six years for both transfer students and first-time students. Early career earnings are the median earnings for both graduates and non-completers, 10 years after they first enrolled.

Sources: U.S. Department of Education, Peterson’s, Money/Witlytic calculations.

More From Money’s College Team

  • Recent College News

    Recent College News

    Read the latest Money coverage on paying for college, succeeding on campus and transitioning to the working world.
  • How to Apply for the FAFSA

    How to Apply for the FAFSA

    The application is the gateway to billions of dollars in financial aid for college.
  • Best Student Loans

    Best Student Loans

    Learn all about private student loans with Money's expert guide.