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New York University
New York University is a private research university woven into Greenwich Village and a global network of campuses — it has no traditional walled quad, so the city itself functions as the campus. Among the most sought-after universities in the country, NYU admits roughly 9% of its 114,000-plus applicants, and enrolled first-years post middle-50% SAT scores of 1480–1550 alongside an average high school GPA near 3.81. It is best known for the performing and visual arts — its single largest degree area — as well as business and the social sciences, and it now pledges to meet the full demonstrated financial need of its first-year students. The figures below are drawn directly from NYU's official Common Data Set.
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NYU admissions statistics
Acceptance rate
Total applicants, admitted students, and enrolled students for the most recent admission cycle.
Early decision
NYU offers binding Early Decision. Applying early can meaningfully change your odds — but ED commits you to enroll if admitted.
Standardized tests
NYU is currently test-optional — you may apply without submitting scores.
SAT Accepted?
ACT Accepted?
Test Optional?
SAT Scores
ACT Scores
NYU supplemental essays — 2026-2027 cycle
Optional: We are looking for students who want to be bridge builders—students who can connect people, groups, and ideas to span divides, foster understanding, and promote collaboration within a dynamic, interconnected, and vibrant global academic community. We are eager for you to tell us how your experiences have helped you understand what qualities and efforts are needed to bridge divides so that people can better learn and work together.
Please consider one or more of the following questions in your essay: - Tell us about a time you encountered a perspective different from your own. What did you learn—about yourself, the other person, or the world? - Tell us about an experience you've had working with others who have different perspectives. What role did you play in helping people to work together, and what did you learn from your efforts? - Tell us about someone you've observed who does a particularly good job helping people think or work together. How does this person set the stage for common exploration or work? How do they react when challenges arise? What qualities do you admire in this person?
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Admissions factors
How NYU weighs each part of your application.
Rigor of High School Record
Academic GPA
Standardized Test Scores
Application Essay
Recommendations
Extracurricular Activities
Character / Personal Qualities
Talent / Ability
First Generation
Level of Applicant's Interest
Class Rank
Volunteer Work
Work Experience
Geographical Residence
State Residency
Alumni Relation
Racial / Ethnic Status
Religious Affiliation
Cost of attendance
Estimated full-time annual cost from NYU's Common Data Set.
Private universities charge the same tuition regardless of state residency.
Financial aid
Need-based aid statistics for full-time first-year students.
Frequently asked questions about NYU admissions
Yes, NYU is highly selective. It admitted about 9.1% of applicants in the most recent cycle, drawing more than 114,000 applications and enrolling roughly 5,700 first-year students. Admission is holistic: the rigor of your high school record, your academic GPA, your application essay, recommendations, and personal qualities are all weighed as very important.
There is no hard cutoff, but enrolled first-years at NYU report an average high school GPA of about 3.81. Academic GPA and the rigor of your course load are both weighed as very important factors, so a strong, challenging transcript matters more than hitting a single number.
A 1490 is competitive: it sits just above the 25th-percentile score of 1480 for enrolled first-years, whose middle 50% scored between 1480 and 1550 on the SAT (34-35 ACT). NYU is test-optional, so a score in this range can help but is not required to be considered.
No. NYU has a flexible, effectively test-optional policy, so you can apply without SAT or ACT scores and still receive full consideration. If you do submit, the middle 50% of enrolled first-years scored 1480-1550 on the SAT and 34-35 on the ACT, and standardized test scores are a considered factor in review.
Undergraduate tuition is about $65,622 a year, before required fees, food, and housing (on-campus food and housing runs roughly $24,376). About 27% of first-years receive need-based grant aid, the average first-year aid package is around $72,963, and NYU now pledges to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need for first-year students.
The visual and performing arts are NYU's single largest degree area at about 16%, reflecting programs like Tisch, followed by the social sciences (~12%), business and marketing (~12%, anchored by Stern), and computing (~10%). NYU is best known for that arts strength alongside business and the social sciences.
Yes. NYU offers binding Early Decision in two rounds, ED I and ED II, both of which commit you to enroll if admitted. NYU does not offer a non-binding Early Action plan, so the early path at NYU is a binding commitment.
Yes. NYU rates the application essay as a very important factor in its holistic review, on the same tier as your GPA, course rigor, recommendations, and personal qualities, and above standardized test scores. With admission this competitive, a specific, well-revised essay is one of the clearest ways to stand out.
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Popular majors
Bachelor's degrees awarded in the past year by academic major.
Student-faculty ratio
The number of students for every one faculty member, indicating the average level of access students have to instructional staff.
Campus life
On-campus housing and Greek life participation rates.
Enrollment by gender
Student diversity
Racial and ethnic breakdown of enrolled undergraduate students.
Source: New York University Common Data Set 2025-2026. Figures transcribed 2026-06-25. In-State Cost is from the 2024-2025 edition. Esslo aggregates publicly reported data and is not affiliated with NYU. Banner photo by InSapphoWeTrust, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0). Cite this page as: Esslo College Explorer, “New York University admissions statistics, transcribed from the 2025-2026 Common Data Set,” https://www.esslo.org/colleges/nyu (retrieved 2026-06-25).