New York University

Gaining admission to New York University has become exceptionally competitive, while its national standing has remained steady. In the 2027 U.S. News Best Colleges rankings, NYU placed 31st, holding close to its position over the past decade. For the class entering in 2025, the university admitted just 9.2% of applicants, an admit rate higher than 47% of peer schools among 30 private research universities with similar rankings. Over one hundred thousand applicants were turned away that year, illustrating the vast volume of candidates seeking entry. Admitted students demonstrate a strong inclination to enroll, reflected in a yield rate of 55.4%, which is higher than 63% of peer institutions. This majority enrollment rate indicates that NYU remains an appealing destination for admitted students across the country and abroad. For applicants, these figures mean that gaining admission requires presenting an outstanding academic profile and a compelling application, as the university accepts fewer than one in ten contenders.

New York University's admission test policy is optional, considered if submitted. For 2025, official score ranges show that the middle half of submitters achieved an ACT composite score between 34 and 35. Submitters also posted an SAT median of 1520, which is higher than 45% of peer schools in its comparison group of similarly ranked private comprehensive universities. A minority of enrolled students submitted test results in 2025, yet admitted profiles reflect rigorous academic standards. In applicant cases collected by Forward Pathway, which are unofficial data rather than university reports, admitted international students held a median unweighted GPA of 3.8. For families evaluating admission prospects, these metrics show that viable applicants generally present classroom grades near an A average alongside testing at the highest levels. Maintaining strong course performance throughout secondary school is vital for a competitive application.

Academic programs at New York University are well distributed rather than heavily concentrated in just a few departments. In 2025, the top three undergraduate majors represented 23.5% of all bachelor's degrees awarded. The largest undergraduate program was Management Science, graduating 678 students, followed by Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies and Research and Experimental Psychology. The university's most popular majors correspond closely with its highest academic evaluations, particularly in business. In the 2026 U.S. News graduate rankings, NYU achieved a 1st-place rank in Accounting (MBA), alongside a 2nd-place undergraduate ranking in Finance for 2027. International enrollment is particularly prominent in quantitative business disciplines and graduate engineering programs. Career outcomes from 2023 earnings data demonstrate strong financial returns for technical and clinical credentials, with Registered Nursing bachelor's recipients earning a median of $120,121 one year after graduation, closely followed by Management Sciences graduates at $111,101.

New York University educates an expansive and diverse student body, enrolling 56,832 students across all academic divisions in 2025. Graduate students make up nearly half of the entire campus, while undergraduate freshmen account for one-tenth of total enrollment. Asian and international students form substantial segments of the university community at every educational level. Among incoming undergraduate freshmen in 2025, Asian students formed the largest demographic group at 26.7%, while international students represented 25.2% of the first-year cohort. In the continuing undergraduate community, both groups similarly maintain shares above one-fifth of enrollment. At the postgraduate level, international students comprise the single largest segment, making up 41.7% of all graduate students, while Asian graduate students represent over one-tenth of that population. This demographic configuration creates an academic environment shaped by substantial international perspectives and a prominent Asian presence across undergraduate lecture halls and postgraduate research seminars alike.

The student body at New York University displays a clear division between its undergraduate and graduate populations. Undergraduates are predominantly traditional college-aged students. In 2025, students aged 20 to 21 constituted 45.2% of all undergraduates, while those aged 18 to 19 made up 38.3%. This creates a conventional undergraduate campus rhythm centered around early-adult college milestones. In contrast, the graduate division is oriented toward young professionals and emerging researchers. Graduate students aged 22 to 24 accounted for 40.7% of graduate enrollment, followed by the 25 to 29 age bracket at 35.5%. Together, these cohorts indicate that postgraduate campus life is driven by individuals advancing directly from college or early careers into specialized study.

International students represent a substantial and expanding presence at New York University across both degree levels. In 2025, international students made up 26.2% of the undergraduate population, reflecting an upward trend over time that is higher than all peer schools in a comparison group of private research universities with similar rankings. The graduate level has experienced a similar expansion, with international enrollment reaching 41.7% of all graduate students in 2025. Among degree recipients, international scholars account for approximately a quarter of bachelor's degrees and more than half of master's degrees. These students concentrate heavily in quantitative, technical, and analytical fields. At the undergraduate level, international graduates make up a majority of degree recipients in Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, along with substantial shares in computer science and management science. In master's degree programs, international representation is especially heavy in engineering and commercial specialties, accounting for 94.4% of graduates in Computer Engineering, General, alongside large majorities in general computer science and marketing operations.

Applicants exploring New York University may also consider several other higher education options within the greater metropolitan area. Just 0.4 kilometers away in Greenwich Village is The New School, a private national university ranked 227th in the 2027 US News rankings. Located 1.3 kilometers away in Lower Manhattan, Pace University is ranked 250th among national universities. Across the Hudson River in Hoboken, New Jersey, Stevens Institute of Technology sits 1.8 kilometers away and holds the 59th position nationally. Further uptown, approximately 5.8 kilometers from NYU, stands Columbia University in the City of New York, an Ivy League peer ranked 12th nationally, along with its affiliated undergraduate women's college, Barnard College, ranked 19th among national liberal arts colleges.

Safety indicators at New York University show an overall decrease in reported infractions, with campus incidents predominantly involving administrative policy enforcement rather than violent crime. Forward Pathway's weighted crime rate per 1,000 students fell to 4.1 in 2025, marking a steady downward trend over the past decade. Across the three-year period from 2023 through 2025, cumulative category totals show that disciplinary referrals constituted the vast majority of logged events. Alcohol disciplinary referrals were the most common issue, totaling 1,641 incidents over those years, accompanied by 219 drug disciplinary referrals. Offenses involving property or personal conduct occurred at much lower levels from 2023 through 2025, including 74 motor vehicle thefts and a smaller number of stalking and assault cases. For prospective students, these records indicate that campus safety concerns primarily center on university conduct enforcement rather than widespread physical danger.