At schools with acceptance rates below 10%, nearly every applicant has near-perfect grades and test scores. Admissions decisions are driven by essays, extracurriculars, recommendations, and institutional priorities — factors no stats-based model can predict. Our likelihood labels reflect academic competitiveness only.
New York University is a major private research university with its main campus in the heart of Greenwich Village, Manhattan. Its Stern School of Business and Tisch School of the Arts are world-renowned, and its global network of campuses in Abu Dhabi, Shanghai, and other cities offers students an unparalleled international education experience.
Mascot: Violet
Notable Alumni
Martin Scorsese (legendary filmmaker)•Lady Gaga (Grammy-winning singer)•Anne Hathaway (Oscar-winning actress)
At a Glance
Cost
Published sticker prices for 2025-2026. Actual cost after aid varies.
Top Programs & National Ranking
Approximate national ranking based on departmental rankings, research output, and program reputation.
Highlights
Campus Experience
NYU's campus is Manhattan, which means your social life is world-class but your sense of 'college community' may not be — there's no quad, no tailgates, and your classmates scatter across the city after lectures. Only about 10% go Greek, and it barely registers on the social radar. Academic pressure varies wildly by school (Stern and Tisch are intense), but everyone shares the unspoken NYC survival tax of navigating the city on top of coursework.
A decentralized urban campus woven through Greenwich Village with no central quad or cohesive architectural theme. Washington Square Park provides a scenic anchor, but most buildings are utilitarian towers mixed into the city grid.
Based on Niche reviews, Princeton Review surveys, student forums, and institutional data.
Safety
Campus crime declined in 2024 with dedicated security across multiple buildings and residence halls. Most incidents involve petty larceny in an open urban campus environment.
Greenwich Village and Washington Square are among Manhattan's safer neighborhoods with active street life and low violent crime, though petty theft occurs.
Based on Clery Act data, student surveys, and local crime statistics.
Plan Your Visit
Schedule: Weekdays and select Saturdays during the academic year
Duration: ~90 minutes (info session + student ambassador-led outdoor tour)
Tours are outdoor walking tours through the Washington Square campus. Group tours (10-140 students) available for a 2-hour experience including presentation, tour, and Q&A. Registration required.
Book a TourNYU offers a self-guided mobile walking tour app and an on-demand video tour for exploring at your own pace. The Washington Square area is fully walkable.
Tour ResourcesOctober through November for fall energy in the Village, or March through April when Washington Square Park comes alive. NYU's campus feels most vibrant during the academic year when 50,000+ students fill the neighborhood. Avoid late December through mid-January (winter break) and late May through August when the student population thins significantly.
No campus parking facilities — driving in Manhattan is not recommended. Subway: A/C/E/B/D/F/M to West 4th St-Washington Square; 4/5/6/N/R/Q/L to 14th St-Union Square (5-min walk south). Commercial garages nearby run $30-50/day. All three NYC airports connect via transit: JFK via AirTrain + subway (~60 min), LGA via Q70 bus + subway (~45 min), EWR via NJ Transit + PATH (~60 min).
Location
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