Percentile rankings vs 1,600+ peer institutions. Higher is better.
Career OutcomesAzimuth ranks New York University #147 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $89,427, placing New York University in the 88.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks Business/Commerce, General #1 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions — a program-level anchor within New York University's arts- and media-forward degree portfolio. New York University sits in the 19.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting how graduates perform relative to similar students at comparable institutions. Graduates earn median 4-year earnings of $89,427, and the university's highest-return program — Business/Commerce, General, ranked #1 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions — illustrates how specific fields within New York University's broad portfolio drive strong financial outcomes alongside its arts and media strengths.
Azimuth ranks New York University #147 for overall value on Azimuth's composite among nonprofit four-year institutions. A private university in New York, NY, New York University enrolls roughly 28,663 undergraduates. Retention is 95.8% and the six-year graduation rate is 87.6%, reflecting strong degree completion relative to the broader nonprofit four-year landscape. Where New York University performs strongest is return on investment. Azimuth ranks New York University #170 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions. Graduates earn median earnings four years after enrollment of $89,427, and graduates earn about $10,544 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing New York University in the 19.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The dominant program family is Visual & Performing Arts, an unusual concentration for a large research university — and one that shapes both the institution's identity and the earnings distribution of its graduates. The composite is moderated by access and affordability. New York University admits about 9.2% of applicants, and 17.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants while 21.5% are first-generation college students — figures that place the institution in the 92.9 percentile for access among nonprofit four-year institutions. Affordability sits in the 6.1 percentile for affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions, reflecting a high sticker price that is partially offset by need-based aid for families that qualify. Mobility outcomes are solid, with New York University sitting in the 92.6 percentile for mobility among nonprofit four-year institutions.
New York University's published cost of attendance is $84,374, but need-based aid shifts what families actually pay. Low-income families see a net price of approximately $16,977, middle-income families pay around $16,862, and higher-income families pay approximately $66,876. Azimuth ranks New York University #1338 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown. For context on how published costs and actual costs diverge, see the net price illusion. NYU participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile. The university's aid structure includes need-based grants, work-study, and loans; merit aid is available but the dominant driver of net-price variation across income bands is demonstrated financial need. Families in the lowest income band benefit most from institutional grant funding, which accounts for the largest share of the gap between sticker price and net price for qualifying students. Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $64,795; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the Parent PLUS risk framework for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $89,427, median federal debt of $20,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $232 under standard ten-year repayment. For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use Azimuth's Financial GPS tool.
New York University is a strong fit for students drawn to Visual & Performing Arts, the humanities, business, and the social sciences who want a private research university experience embedded in one of the world's most active creative and professional labor markets. The earnings case is solid: graduates earn median $89,427 four years after enrollment, placing New York University in the 88.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions, and earn about $10,544 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing New York University in the 19.5 percentile for earnings beyond expectations among nonprofit four-year institutions. The access picture is more selective. New York University admits roughly 9.2% of applicants, and 17.9% of undergraduates receive Pell Grants — a meaningful share for a private research university in New York, NY, though the high cost of attendance means net price remains a real consideration for many families. New York University sits in the 98.4 percentile for low-income graduate earnings among nonprofit four-year institutions — a historical 10-year Scorecard measure not yet updated to the 4-year horizon — which signals that Pell-eligible students who do enroll and graduate tend to reach competitive earnings over time. Fit depends on two realistic filters: the program mix is anchored in Visual & Performing Arts and related creative and professional fields, so students whose interests align there will find the strongest outcomes, while those pursuing applied-technical or health-science pathways may find better program depth elsewhere. Families should also weigh net price carefully — higher-income families pay around $66,876 annually, and median student debt at graduation is $20,500, figures that make the Financial GPS tool a useful next step for scenario-specific planning.
This school profile was generated using Azimuth's proprietary ROI framework, developed by founder Daniel Rogers. Our methodology transforms federal education data into actionable insights for families.
College Azimuth is a private research initiative and is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Education or Federal Student Aid. Data sourced from College Scorecard.
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, investment, or professional advice. Consult a qualified advisor before making any financial decisions.
Comprehensive Analysis
Detailed metrics, charts, and full data breakdown
Financial GPS Tool
Personalized cost and earnings calculator
This is the New York University hub overview page. Related admissions, cost, outcomes, majors, and similar-school pages provide the detailed school data.
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
255 graduates
Computer and Information Sciences, General
604 graduates
Business/Commerce, General
395 graduates
Real Estate
58 graduates
Mathematics and Statistics, Other
108 graduates
New York University's program mix is anchored in Visual & Performing Arts, which accounts for 16% of degree output — an unusually high concentration for a large private research university. Social Sciences represents 15% of graduates and Business accounts for 11%, rounding out a portfolio that balances creative fields with applied professional programs.
Artificial Intelligence is the largest program with 604 graduates, followed by General Studies (549 graduates) and Economics (541 graduates). Across 65 programs serving roughly 7,429 students annually, 44 meet Azimuth's [ranking threshold](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/).
The strongest national ranks cluster in quantitative and applied-professional fields rather than in the arts programs that dominate enrollment. Azimuth ranks Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods #1 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with 255 graduates earning $158,559.
Azimuth ranks Research Psychology #29 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with 530 graduates earning $63,315. Artificial Intelligence also stands out: Azimuth ranks the program #14 among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with graduates earning $142,495.
Artificial Intelligence combines the largest cohort scale with strong median earnings of $142,495. Several of New York University's high-earning programs are direct-to-workforce pathways where four-year earnings reflect labor-market demand — particularly Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods, Artificial Intelligence, and Research Psychology.
By contrast, programs in the visual and performing arts and in fields like Nursing often feed into grad-school-dependent or portfolio-career trajectories where four-year earnings undercount lifetime outcomes. The [supply-demand map](/analysis/supply-demand-map-college-degrees/) provides context for how these program families align with national wage trends and employer demand.
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 |
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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Drexel University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#4284 ranked) | PA | 79% | $84,648 | #4284 | Compare |
Boston College Similar quality tier in Northeast (#4288 ranked) | MA | 16% | $103,937 | #4288 | Compare |
Boston University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#4344 ranked) | MA | 11% | $83,238 | #4344 | Compare |
Northeastern University Similar quality tier in Northeast (#4384 ranked) | MA | 5% | $92,538 | #4384 | Compare |
George Washington University Similar quality tier (#5985 ranked) | DC | 47% | $90,873 | #5985 | Compare |
Based on federal data for students receiving aid. Actual costs may vary.
New York University's published cost of attendance is $84,374, but need-based aid shifts what families actually pay. Low-income families see a net price of approximately $16,977, middle-income families pay around $16,862, and higher-income families pay approximately $66,876.
Azimuth ranks New York University #1338 for post-graduation affordability among nonprofit four-year institutions. Net prices by income band are medians within those bands; individual aid packages vary, so some families in each band pay more and some less than the figures shown.
For context on how published costs and actual costs diverge, see the [net price illusion](/analysis/is-college-worth-it-part-1-the-net-price-illusion/). NYU participates in federal, state, and institutional aid programs, and families apply using the FAFSA and CSS Profile.
The university's aid structure includes need-based grants, work-study, and loans; merit aid is available but the dominant driver of net-price variation across income bands is demonstrated financial need. Families in the lowest income band benefit most from institutional grant funding, which accounts for the largest share of the gap between sticker price and net price for qualifying students.
Median federal student loan debt at graduation is $20,500, and families using Parent PLUS borrow a median of $64,795; private or institutional loans may add further borrowing that falls outside these federal-only figures — see the [Parent PLUS risk framework](/analysis/ou-what-happens-when-parents-borrow-too/) for how household context shapes PLUS decisions. For a graduate at the institution's median four-year earnings of $89,427, median federal debt of $20,500 projects to a monthly payment of about $232 under standard ten-year repayment.
For personalized projections across earnings scenarios — including Parent PLUS planning — use [Azimuth's Financial GPS tool](/analysis/financial-gps-framework/).
Graduates of New York University earn median earnings of $89,427 four years after enrollment, placing New York University in the 88.0 percentile for median earnings four years after enrollment among nonprofit four-year institutions. That figure runs above the $95,739 median at comparable institutions (same control and size band).
Graduates earn about $10,544 less than similar students at comparable institutions, placing New York University in the 19.5 percentile for [earnings beyond expectations](/analysis/a-value-added-approach-to-college-outcomes/) among nonprofit four-year institutions. Azimuth ranks New York University #170 for return on investment among nonprofit four-year institutions.
The degree mix at New York University is anchored by Visual & Performing Arts, which accounts for 16% of graduates, followed by Social Sciences at 15% and Business at 11%. Artificial Intelligence combines large cohort scale with strong pay, making it a key driver of the university's aggregate return profile.
Azimuth ranks Artificial Intelligence #14 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment per the [program-ranking methodology](/analysis/college-program-rankings-how-to-actually-evaluate-programs/), with 604 graduates earning median earnings of $142,495. The General Studies program graduates 549 students with median earnings of $66,502, and Azimuth ranks Economics #46 nationally among nonprofit four-year institutions for median earnings four years after enrollment, with graduates earning $116,510.
Research Psychology and Nursing round out the top programs, with median earnings of $63,315 and $118,433 respectively — reflecting the breadth of high-return fields available at New York University.
