Programs & majors brief

New York University Majors & Programs

Updated

Which majors earn the most at NYU?

The university's largest programs span a wide earnings range, from six-figure medians in quantitative fields to more moderate outcomes in the social sciences and creative arts. Computer and Information Sciences is the largest program with 604 degrees awarded, and its completers earn a median of $142,495 four years after completion, ranking #12 nationally in the field.

Economics follows with 541 degrees awarded and median earnings of $116,510, placing it #29 nationally. Among the larger programs with more moderate earnings, Liberal Arts and General Studies awarded 549 degrees and shows a median of $66,502, ranking #14 nationally.

Research and Experimental Psychology reports $63,315 on 530 degrees awarded and an Azimuth national rank of #16.

Major mix · each dot ≈ 1% of completions

Share of reported completions in the bachelor’s programs included here. Each dot represents approximately 1% of those completions. Counts are credentials, not unique students; excluded programs are not zero activity.

  • Visual and performing arts1,173 · 15.8%
  • Social sciences1,092 · 14.7%
  • Business853 · 11.5%
  • Computer science692 · 9.3%
  • Liberal arts549 · 7.4%
  • Other3,070 · 41.3%

65 of 65 programs shown

Four-year earnings · first six matching programs
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods 255 degrees awarded
$158,559
Computer and Information Sciences, General 604 degrees awarded
$142,495
Business/Commerce, General 395 degrees awarded
$137,804
Real Estate 58 degrees awarded
$130,716
Mathematics and Statistics, Other 108 degrees awarded
$129,073
Computer Engineering 38 degrees awarded
$127,201

Each bar is a field’s median. Program size counts degrees awarded, not unique people or the earnings sample.

Compare all matching programs
Reported bachelor’s programs · earnings, program size and field ranks
ProgramDegrees awarded4-yr earningsField rank
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods255$158,559#1
Computer and Information Sciences, General604$142,495#12
Business/Commerce, General395$137,804#1
Real Estate58$130,716#3
Mathematics and Statistics, Other108$129,073—
Computer Engineering38$127,201#29
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing431$118,433#18
Economics541$116,510#29
Engineering-Related Fields69$114,572#1
Electrical, Electronics, and Communications Engineering42$107,348#59
Civil Engineering42$94,867#30
Social Sciences, General61$91,917#2
Mathematics137$91,832#29
Mechanical Engineering104$91,821#119
Chemical Engineering40$89,744#116
Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other115$87,656#4
Chemistry29$86,197#7
Hospitality Administration/Management30$84,375#2
Urban Studies/Affairs31$81,123—
Political Science and Government191$80,957#34
Sociology61$77,650#6
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication410$77,109#3
Communication Disorders Sciences and Services small degree count16$75,970—
Social Sciences, Other81$74,983#3
History118$74,545#16
Public Health43$70,840#24
Nutrition Sciences48$70,508#5
Physics58$69,334#57
Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology37$68,690#42
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities549$66,502#14
English Language and Literature, General small degree count16$66,306—
Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology56$65,406#2
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods47$64,640#7
Research and Experimental Psychology530$63,315#16
Area Studies31$62,651#19
Social Work31$59,593#43
Film/Video and Photographic Arts407$58,720#2
Biology, General96$58,513#199
Music87$52,841#22
Philosophy71$52,633#37
Fine and Studio Arts95$49,478#30
Visual and Performing Arts, Other125$45,991#4
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft416$42,348#13
Dance43$38,571#23
Ethnic, Cultural Minority, Gender, and Group Studies small degree count16Too few graduates to report—
Graphic Communications small degree count6Too few graduates to report—
Computer Software and Media Applications79Too few graduates to report—
Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services, Other small degree count9Too few graduates to report—
Education, General23Too few graduates to report—
Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas23Too few graduates to report—
Engineering Physics small degree count6Too few graduates to report—
Romance Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics38Too few graduates to report—
Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services small degree count17Too few graduates to report—
Foreign Languages, Literatures, and Linguistics, Other small degree count5Too few graduates to report—
Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services small degree count7Too few graduates to report—
Literature85Too few graduates to report—
Neurobiology and Neurosciences49Too few graduates to report—
Statistics45Too few graduates to report—
Applied Mathematics29Too few graduates to report—
Natural Sciences29Too few graduates to report—
Sustainability Studies small degree count16Too few graduates to report—
Cognitive Science small degree count8Too few graduates to report—
International Relations and National Security Studies89Too few graduates to report—
Anthropology37Too few graduates to report—
Dental Support Services and Allied Professions20Too few graduates to report—

Program data and definitions · How to evaluate program rankings

What are the largest programs at NYU?

Ten largest programs by degrees awarded
Computer and Information Sciences, General
604
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
549
Economics
541
Research and Experimental Psychology
530
Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing
431
Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft
416
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication
410
Film/Video and Photographic Arts
407
Business/Commerce, General
395
Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods
255

Counts describe degrees awarded in the reporting period, not current enrollment. Program data and definitions

How do NYU majors rank nationally?

National program rankings

  1. Engineering-Related Fields#1
  2. Business/Commerce, General#1
  3. Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods#1
  4. Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology#2
  5. Social Sciences, General#2
  6. Film/Video and Photographic Arts#2
  7. Hospitality Administration/Management#2
  8. Radio, Television, and Digital Communication#3
  9. Social Sciences, Other#3
  10. Real Estate#3
  11. Visual and Performing Arts, Other#4
  12. Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other#4
  13. Nutrition Sciences#5
  14. Sociology#6
  15. Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods#7
  16. Chemistry#7
  17. Computer and Information Sciences, General#12
  18. Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft#13
  19. Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities#14
  20. Research and Experimental Psychology#16
  21. History#16
  22. Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing#18
  23. Area Studies#19
  24. Music#22
  25. Dance#23
  26. Public Health#24
  27. Computer Engineering#29
  28. Mathematics#29
  29. Economics#29
  30. Civil Engineering#30
  31. Fine and Studio Arts#30
  32. Political Science and Government#34
  33. Philosophy#37
  34. Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology#42
  35. Social Work#43

Programs ranked in the national top 50, supplemented by the largest ranked programs when needed to show ten. Fewer appear when fewer ranks are reported. Each rank compares bachelor’s programs in the same field; field sizes differ.

How Azimuth compares programs across colleges

Further analysis

The return on a degree from New York University is not uniform; it is specific to the field of study. The university has 40 ranked programs and 44 with published earnings data.

The degree mix is broad. Visual & Performing Arts accounts for 15.8% of bachelor's degrees awarded, followed by Social Sciences at 14.7% and Business at 11.5%.

The largest single program is Computer and Information Sciences, with 604 degrees awarded and a median of $142,495 four years after completion, which Azimuth ranks #12 nationally. The highest earnings belong to a smaller program: Management Science completers earn a median of $158,559 four years after completion, and Azimuth ranks the program #1 in its field.

Business/Commerce ranks #1 nationally, with completers earning a median of $137,804 four years after completion. Across all programs, 24.1% of degrees awarded are in STEM fields.

Data & methodology

Sources and reporting periods: methodology.

Analysis and methodology by Daniel Rogers, founder of College Azimuth.

Explanatory text is AI-assisted drafting checked against those figures; it is not an additional data source.

Figure notes link to sources and limitations. About College Azimuth.