NYU combines highly selective admission with strong absolute earnings outcomes, particularly benefiting students pursuing careers in technology, business, and creative industries. As a Selective Achievers institution, the university delivers excellent mobility performance alongside premium access to competitive career markets.
With well above average results, driven by high absolute earnings levels
With modestly below average performance, reflecting higher net costs relative to peer institutions
With excellent performance, reflecting above-average enrollment of Pell-eligible and first-generation students despite selective admission
With excellent performance, indicating strong outcomes for diverse student populations
Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Full AnalysisNYU delivers strong earnings outcomes relative to national benchmarks, though not relative to student credentials. Graduates earn a median of $82,509 ten years after enrollment, ranking at the 94.0th percentile nationally.
However, graduates earn $18,133 below expectations given their academic profiles, placing the institution at just the 3.2nd percentile for earnings beyond expectations. This reflects the premium that highly credentialed students pay for access to competitive fields and prestigious networks.
Students seeking prestigious credentials and high-earning career tracks, particularly in technology, business, and entertainment fields. Well-suited for academically exceptional students who can navigate highly selective admission and manage substantial costs for long-term career advantages.
NYU admits approximately 9.4% of applicants, meaning roughly 1 in 11 applicants receives an offer of admission. This places NYU among the most selective universities in the United States, falling within the Most Selective category for institutions with acceptance rates below 10%.
The peer median admission rate of 69.4% highlights the stark difference between NYU's selectivity and typical four-year institutions. Even among elite private research universities, NYU's acceptance rate places it in highly competitive territory.
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
NYU's published cost of attendance reaches $79,121 per year, including $60,438 in tuition, $22,786 for room and board, and $1,494 for books and supplies. However, the average student pays $35,035 after financial aid, representing savings of $44,086 from the sticker price.
This net price of $35,035 sits slightly above the peer median of $33,531 by $1,504, positioning NYU at a modest premium compared to similar institutions. The institution's affordability index ranks at the 7.4th percentile with modestly below average performance, reflecting higher costs relative to peer institutions and limited financial aid reach.
Net prices vary dramatically by family income, ranging from $16,816 for families earning under $30,000 to $59,931 for those earning over $110,000. This $43,115 gap between lowest and highest income tiers demonstrates substantial aid targeting toward lower-income families, though middle and upper-middle-income families face significant costs.
The financial aid structure indicates that NYU concentrates resources on students with the greatest need while expecting higher-income families to pay closer to full price. Students should carefully evaluate whether the institutional brand and location advantages justify the premium pricing relative to alternatives with similar career outcomes.
Artificial Intelligence.
487 graduates
Actuarial Science.
241 graduates
Mathematics and Statistics, Other.
64 graduates
Business/Commerce, General.
415 graduates
Adult Health Nurse/Nursing.
409 graduates
Consider these schools with similar outcomes but higher acceptance rates:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Yeshivas Be'er Yitzchok Higher acceptance rate (90.6 percentage points higher) and located 12 miles away; similar graduate earnings | NJ | 100% | $82,560 | Compare |
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
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This is the New York University hub overview page. For comprehensive institutional data including detailed charts and metrics, visit the full analysis at /school/new-york-university/analysis.
Top-tier earnings with selective admission
New York University ranks #160 nationally in Azimuth's composite analysis, with excellent performance at the 90.2nd percentile. This large private nonprofit university in New York, New York maintains highly selective admission standards with a 9.4% acceptance rate while delivering strong post-graduation outcomes.
NYU enrolls 18.6% Pell-eligible students and 21.5% first-generation students, positioning it as a Selective Achievers institution that serves fewer low-income students while producing strong outcomes. Graduates earn a median of $82,509 ten years after enrollment, placing NYU at the 94.0th percentile nationally for long-term earnings.
With median debt of $20,500 compared to a peer median of $23,168, the university maintains favorable borrowing levels relative to similar institutions. NYU combines highly selective admissions with strong economic outcomes, particularly benefiting students who can leverage the institution's location and program strengths in competitive career markets.
This level of selectivity means that even exceptionally qualified students—those with outstanding test scores and strong academic records—face significant uncertainty in the admission process. Many students who would excel at NYU do not receive admission simply due to the volume of highly qualified applicants competing for limited spots.
For this reason, students considering NYU should build comprehensive college lists that include schools with higher acceptance rates but comparable academic quality and career outcomes. Treating NYU as a reach school regardless of qualifications represents sound application strategy.
Students should expect that admission depends not only on meeting academic thresholds but also on distinguishing themselves within a pool of similarly accomplished applicants.
NYU graduates demonstrate steady earnings growth over time, with median earnings rising from $64,543 six years after enrollment to $76,035 at eight years and $82,509 at ten years, representing 27.8% growth from the six-year mark. These outcomes are based on a ten-year cohort of 4,036 graduates, providing high confidence in reported figures.
While absolute earnings rank at the 94.0th percentile nationally, graduates earn $18,133 below expectations compared to similar students, placing NYU at the 3.2rd percentile for earnings uplift. This reflects the competitive nature of fields where NYU graduates concentrate, where high credentials are necessary but not sufficient for premium outcomes.
Low-income graduates earn $76,100, ranking in the top 5% nationally, indicating strong support for economic mobility despite the institution's selective profile. Earnings span from $45,965 at the 25th percentile to $133,284 at the 75th percentile, with the 2.9:1 ratio reflecting substantial variation across programs and post-graduation career paths.
Approximately 26.8% of graduates continue to graduate or professional study, indicating preparation for both workforce entry and advanced education.
NYU offers 20 bachelor's degree programs with federal earnings data for ranking analysis. Artificial Intelligence ranks #8 nationally and #1 in New York, producing 487 graduates with median earnings of $129,248 and a value score of 96.5.
Actuarial Science ranks #1 nationally, graduating 241 students with median earnings of $129,049 and a perfect value score of 100.0. Business/Commerce, General also ranks #1 nationally, with 415 graduates earning $115,546 and achieving a perfect value score of 100.0.
Digital Communication and Media/Multimedia ranks #3 nationally and #2 in New York, graduating 440 students with median earnings of $65,523. Several programs rank as top majors at the school by enrollment, including General Studies (593 graduates), Applied Economics (503 graduates), and Cinematography and Film/Video Production (465 graduates), reflecting the university's strengths in liberal arts, business, and creative fields.
Cuny Bernard M Baruch College Higher acceptance rate (41.1 percentage points higher) and located 1 miles away; similar graduate earnings | NY | 50% | $75,971 | Compare |
Quinnipiac University Higher acceptance rate (67.6 percentage points higher) and located 75 miles away; similar graduate earnings | CT | 77% | $83,759 | Compare |
Wentworth Institute Of Technology Higher acceptance rate (76 percentage points higher); similar graduate earnings | MA | 85% | $82,721 | Compare |
Missouri University Of Science And Technology Higher acceptance rate (63.7 percentage points higher); similar graduate earnings | MO | 73% | $82,957 | Compare |
Peer institutions with comparable quality and outcomes:
| School | State | Accept Rate | Median Earnings | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Boston College Similar quality tier in Northeast (#172 ranked) | MA | 16% | $103,937 | #172 | Compare |
Drexel University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#183 ranked) | PA | 78% | $84,648 | #183 | Compare |
Boston University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#194 ranked) | MA | 11% | $83,238 | #194 | Compare |
Depaul University Similar quality tier (#291 ranked) | IL | 74% | $68,751 | #291 | Compare |
Northeastern University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#305 ranked) | MA | 6% | $92,538 | #305 | Compare |
