New York University
New York University — Earnings vs Cost (vs National Average)
What we think of New York University
NYU is the honest cautionary tale on this list. It admits students at rates comparable to Ivy-league schools (9.2%), so applicants often treat it as a peer to Princeton, Yale, or Columbia. The financial reality is closer to a strong regional private: a $37,050 average net price is roughly double what MIT, Stanford, and Princeton charge after aid, and median earnings of $82,509 do not close the gap. The result is a 49/100 value score at a school that is genuinely difficult to get into.
The mechanism is that NYU is famously less generous with need-based aid than schools of comparable selectivity. It does not meet full demonstrated need for most admitted students, and merit aid is limited. This is common knowledge inside admissions circles but is often not internalized by prospective applicants before they enroll. The 1.8-year payback period, while not disastrous, is roughly triple what MIT delivers on the same admissions tier.
Median debt of $20,500 is not extreme in isolation, but relative to graduate earnings it produces a debt-to-first-year-income ratio of about 25% — meaningfully worse than at more selective, better-funded privates.
Bottom line: NYU makes sense if you specifically need to be in New York City for your field — finance, film, media, fashion, or the arts — and your family can absorb the price without heavy borrowing. If the goal is a strong nationally-recognized undergraduate degree with a healthy ROI, there are consistently cheaper and higher-earning options at Rice, Michigan, UNC, Berkeley, and even some elite privates that admit at similar rates. Apply with the cost math clearly understood.
New York University at a Glance
New York University (NYU) is a private research university in New York City, United States. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded in 1832 by Albert Gallatin as a non-denominational all-male institution near City Hall based on a curriculum focused on a secular education. The university moved in 1833 and has maintained its main campus in Greenwich Village surrounding Washington Square Park. Since then, the university has added an engineering school in Brooklyn's Metr…
1831
195 years old
$7.3B
$7.28 billion (2025)
61,890
29,760 undergrad · 27,578 grad
5,094
230 acres
Identity
Is New York University Worth It?
New York University offers moderate value at $37,050/year net price. Graduates earn a median of $82,509, which is near the national average. Students should research specific program outcomes before committing.
The investment pays for itself in just 1.8 years — among the fastest payback periods of any college we track.
With a 88% graduation rate, the vast majority of students finish their degree and reach these earning outcomes.
The catch: admission is extremely selective at just 9%, making this an option only for top-tier applicants.
How New York University compares to peer private nonprofit colleges of similar tier nationally
Ranked #4 of 4 on value score. Peers are matched by size, median earnings, SAT, and admission rate — not just geography.
| Rank | College | Value | Net price / yr | Median earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Boston University | 76 | $24,402 | $83,238 |
| #2 | Northeastern University | 68 | $30,915 | $92,538 |
| #3 | University of Southern California | 65 | $32,740 | $92,498 |
| #4 | New York University | 49 | $37,050 | $82,509 |
Peer group: private nonprofit colleges within ±60% of New York University's student body size and within a similar academic tier (SAT ±80, admit rate ±10pp, median earnings ±25%).
Best Programs at New York University
The highest-earning program at New York University is Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing at $91,800/year (4 years after graduation). The lowest is Dance at $16,300/year.
Your major matters more than the school name — a Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduate from New York University earns $91,800, while a Dance graduate earns $16,300. That's more than a 2× difference from the same institution. Choose your program carefully — it's the single biggest lever you control.
Debt also varies by program: Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing graduates carry $20,104 in median debt vs. $23,250 for Dance.
Return on Investment
Estimated 4-Year Cost
Based on $37,050/yr net price × 4 years
Earnings Premium
vs. national average of $53,787/yr
Payback Period
Time to recoup the total cost through higher earnings
10-Year Net Gain
Median earnings over 10 years minus total cost of attendance
Programs & Earnings by Major
Graduate earnings data by field of study (4 years after graduation):
| Major | Earnings (4yr) | Earnings (1yr) | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing | $91,800 | $91,800 | $20,104 |
| Business/Commerce, General | $77,100 | $77,100 | $19,000 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General | $76,700 | $76,700 | $22,275 |
| Computer Engineering | $75,400 | $75,400 | $22,750 |
| Civil Engineering | $66,400 | $66,400 | $26,000 |
| Economics | $56,900 | $56,900 | $21,500 |
| Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering | $55,700 | $55,700 | $21,125 |
| Mathematics | $53,400 | $53,400 | $21,000 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Subject Areas | $51,500 | $51,500 | $21,000 |
| Hospitality Administration/Management | $50,300 | $50,300 | $19,500 |
| Mechanical Engineering | $49,600 | $49,600 | $22,500 |
| Chemical Engineering | $47,700 | $47,700 | $20,250 |
| Political Science and Government | $47,200 | $47,200 | $21,960 |
| Social Sciences, General | $46,300 | $46,300 | $28,812 |
| Business, Management, Marketing, and Related Support Services, Other | $45,300 | $45,300 | $24,115 |
| Communication and Media Studies | $43,200 | $43,200 | $21,375 |
| Teacher Education and Professional Development, Specific Levels and Methods | $43,000 | $43,000 | $17,500 |
| Radio, Television, and Digital Communication | $42,600 | $42,600 | $23,250 |
| Sociology | $41,000 | $41,000 | $16,250 |
| Public Health | $39,700 | $39,700 | $25,000 |
| Anthropology | $39,500 | $39,500 | $22,750 |
| History | $39,000 | $39,000 | $22,454 |
| Chemistry | $35,000 | $35,000 | $22,970 |
| English Language and Literature, General | $34,800 | $34,800 | $22,000 |
| Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities | $34,100 | $34,100 | $22,769 |
| Community Organization and Advocacy | $33,800 | $33,800 | $21,437 |
| Engineering-Related Fields | $33,300 | $33,300 | $25,500 |
| Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology | $32,900 | $32,900 | $19,250 |
| Linguistic, Comparative, and Related Language Studies and Services | $32,400 | $32,400 | $23,625 |
| Neurobiology and Neurosciences | $32,400 | $32,400 | $24,250 |
| Psychology, General | $32,400 | $32,400 | $20,500 |
| Foods, Nutrition, and Related Services | $31,700 | $31,700 | $15,837 |
| Visual and Performing Arts, Other | $31,100 | $31,100 | $23,172 |
| Film/Video and Photographic Arts | $27,000 | $27,000 | $21,493 |
| Ecology, Evolution, Systematics, and Population Biology | $25,100 | $25,100 | $25,250 |
| Biology, General | $25,000 | $25,000 | $19,500 |
| Fine and Studio Arts | $24,600 | $24,600 | $22,000 |
| Philosophy | $24,500 | $24,500 | $20,500 |
| Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft | $21,700 | $21,700 | $23,250 |
| Music | $16,900 | $16,900 | $20,500 |
| Dance | $16,300 | $16,300 | $23,250 |
Similar Colleges in NY
Quick Facts
- Institution Type
- private
- Location
- New York, NY
- Student Body
- 28,663 students
- Admission Rate
- 9%
- Graduation Rate
- 88%
- Net Price (Annual)
- $37,050
- Median Earnings (10yr)
- $82,509
- Median Student Debt
- $20,500