NEW YORK UNIVERSITY

NYU Application Requirements, Admissions Tips, and University Guide

Where is NYU?

NYU has three degree-granting campuses in major cities around the world: New York, Abu Dhabi, and Shanghai. This overview will focus on the New York City campus. New York University finds its home at the heart of one of the world’s biggest metropolitan cities: NYC. The school was founded as an “in and of the city,” and many NYU students consider NYC their campus. The New York City campus is home to 11 schools and colleges. Most of NYU’s buildings are scattered across downtown Manhattan, but the lively and iconic Washington Square Park is the center of NYU’s turf, offering a spot to watch street performers, picnic with friends, or even study when the weather’s too nice to be cooped up in a library. The New York University Tandon School of Engineering is the only undergraduate school not in Manhattan. It’s located in Brooklyn’s MetroTech Center, one of the largest urban university-corporate parks in the United States.

What is the student body like?

NYU’s class of 2026 will have no racial or ethnic majority. 66% of domestic students on campus identify as students of color. The class of 2026 represents more than 107 countries and 49 states. 19.4% are first-generation students. The incoming class is approximately 5,700 students.

Are NYU students successful?

At a school as big as NYU (undergrad enrollment Fall 2021: 29,700), you might expect the university to have some shortcomings in terms of support for students. However, this is far from the case. NYU’s six-year graduation rate is 85%, which is pretty high compared to the national average of 64%. 95% of NYU Class of 2021 graduates were employed or enrolled in grad school within six months of graduation, and the mean salary of NYU graduates is $71,128.

What is NYU’s Acceptance Rate?

NYU’s acceptance rate has steadily dropped over the last five consecutive years. The acceptance rate for the class of 2026 was 12.2%, and there were over 105,000 applicants!

How do I get into NYU?

The Common Application is required for students applying to any or all of NYU’s campuses (New York, Abu Dhabi, or Shanghai). Along with your Common App, students need to submit:

• Official score reports
  • NYU is test-optional for the 2022-2023 admissions cycle
  • If students choose to submit testing, NYU’s test flexible policy allows them to submit one of the following:
    • SAT
    • ACT
    • International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma
    • Three (3) SAT Subject Test Scores
    • Three (3) AP Exam scores
    • Three (3) IB higher-level exam scores if not an IB Diploma candidate
    • Other international examinations that show you completed, or if submitting predicted results show you will complete, your secondary education. You can use our International Qualifications Tool for information about credentials we accept from the country in which you are enrolled in secondary school
    • Applicants to programs in our Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development and our Tisch School of the Arts requiring an audition or portfolio are not required to submit standardized testing for consideration and doing so is entirely optional. For other programs where an audition or portfolio is optional but not required, testing is required
• A Self Reported Academic Record (SRAR).
• An audition or portfolio for specific artistic program applicants to the Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development and Tisch School of the Arts.
• English language testing if you have not completed at least 3 years of study where English is the sole language of instruction at the time of application submission and English is not your native language.
• Records of all college work that you have received academic credit for.
• The Common Application Mid-Year Report with updated academic record if mid-year grades are available. This should show your first-semester senior year grades.

NYU reports a 1350 to 1530 middle 50% range of combined SAT scores and a 31 to 35 middle 50% range of ACT scores for first years. That doesn’t mean you can only get into NYU if your standardized test scores fall within that range. Rather, you have a better shot at getting in if your SAT/ACT scores are within or above that bracket.

NYU has three application rounds: Early Decision I (Deadline: 11/1), Early Decision II (Deadline: 1/1), and Regular Decision (Deadline: 1/5). EDI applicants receive their decision on December 15th, ED II applicants receive their results on February 15, and RD students receive them on April 1. Additionally, ED is a binding application, so if you apply and get accepted, you must attend NYU and withdraw your applications to all other schools.

When is the NYU transfer application admission deadline?

NYU accepts both fall and spring transfer students. To transfer to NYU for fall semester, students should submit their transfer application through the Common Application by April 1st. To transfer to NYU for the spring semester, students should apply by November 1st.

What can I study at NYU?

At NYU, the sky is really the limit. Between its many colleges—Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development, Tandon School of Engineering, Leonard N. Stern School of Business, Tisch School of the Arts, and the College of Arts and Sciences there are over 400 programs offered. You can learn more about each of the colleges here. There are also special programs at NYU, such as Tandon’s BS/MS program, through which students can earn their Bachelors and Masters degree from NYU Tandon at a lower cost than pursuing both degrees separately. Tisch students can participate in special programs like creating digital games in New York City or producing a documentary film in Havana.

How much does NYU cost?

The general cost of attendance for tuition and room and board at NYU is $83,250. However, tuition, fees, room and board, and other expenses vary by college. NYU does not require students to live on campus, so if you commute or live off-campus, your room and board may be lower, but your transportation costs would be higher. You should look into the cost of attendance for the specific school you are planning on attending. While most of the aid NYU awards is need-based, the university offers both need-based and merit-based scholarships. Need-based scholarships are offered on the basis of your parents’ income and assets, whereas merit-based scholarships are awarded based on your academic achievements.

What is student life like?

Life for NYU students is unconventional in the sense that their campus is New York City. Even though there’s no gated, student-only campus, the city serves as an extension, not a roadblock, to NYU’s community. Members of the NYU community fill the restaurants, shops, and other local businesses, bringing the neighborhood to life with intellectual energy.

As a culturally-rich city, New York has much to offer NYU students. Students have free access to a number of NYC museums (which also happen to be some of the best in the world). NYU itself has a vast gallery network across the city for students who prefer to experience art in a more intimate setting. NYU also runs three theaters where students can watch high-quality performances by their peers.

*Updated 2022