New York University is one of the top schools in the United States, renowned for its academic rankings, professional stature, and student selectivity in nearly every department.
The main campus is located in the heart of Greenwich Village. New York City is an international hub of cultural life whose community shaped NYU’s urban identity. The university’s founders declared it as a school that is “in and of the city.” The students at NYU continue to draw from and contribute to the complexity of the Big Apple to this day, developing cultural bridges and perspectives in today’s global society.
As NYU continues to evolve with the growing diversity of its surroundings, they have opened campuses worldwide. Their 15 international campuses provide a unique and quality academic experience for students all over.
The success of NYU’s academic programs can be seen in their impressive list of alumni. Among the university’s graduates include the polio vaccine creator, Jonas Salk, along with 38 Nobel Laureates, 8 Turing Award winners, and 9 National Medal of Science recipients. While studying at NYU, Jack Dorsey came up with the idea for Twitter. The renowned Tisch School of the Arts has produced some of the biggest names in entertainment including Martin Scorsese, Spike Lee, Angelina Jolie, and Lady Gaga.
Like many Ivy League schools, NYU is one of the most prominent and respected research universities globally. The world-class academic programs ensure that those who graduate from New York University have the chance to influence the world.
Is NYU an Ivy League School?
Although NYU is not an Ivy League school, it is often considered on par with the Ivies due to academics, research, and athletic prestige. In fact, the school was declared as a “New Ivy” by Newsweek due to its impressive admissions statistics and quality education.
The Ivy League began as an athletic conference of eight private research colleges competing in NCAA Division I. Over time, this collective of elite colleges began to signify academic excellence and selectivity along with athletic success. These universities are well-recognized names around the world and students excel in a variety of fields. The selective Ivy League consortium is made up of the University of Pennsylvania, Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, and Yale.
Although many other universities have similar academic and athletic standards to the Ivies, this selective group does not take any new members. Some of the top schools in the world including Stanford, MIT, and Caltech are not part of the Ivy League but continue to top rankings and drive innovation around the world.
Similarly, NYU is a renowned university with exciting research and academic opportunities for students. New York University is particularly well-known for their social sciences, philosophy, business, law, and performing arts programs.
The NYU Violets are a pioneer in intercollegiate sports that have enjoyed a successful career. Their athletic programs have won multiple league championships and three Division III national championships in basketball, golf, and cross country. Their impressive Division I fencing team has successfully won 12 national championships, the most titles out of any team.
Why NYU is Often Confused as an Ivy League School
NYU is often confused as an Ivy League School due to its unique resources and high selectivity. Overall, the university has a competitive acceptance rate of 16%. The College of Arts and Science is even more selective, dropping to an 10.6% admittance rate. This school is as competitive as Ivy League schools, even more selective than Cornell.
New York University receives the most applications out of any private institution, including all eight Ivies. The impressive programs and opportunities offered have encouraged more and more students to apply every year. In 2020, NYU became the first private university in the United States to exceed 100,000 applications.
To support teaching, research, and the school’s overall mission, NYU receives significant financial support not only from alumni, but from other members of its community. The university’s endowment reached $4.7 billion in 2020, on par with Brown University.
This financial support enables research across the university in a variety of fields. In 2017, NYU spent $917.7 million in research expenditures. This extraordinary amount is comparable and even exceeds the research spending of many Ivy League schools, including Princeton, Yale, Cornell, and Columbia. Because of their research prowess, the Carnegie Classification has labeled NYU as an R1 Doctoral University with very high research activity.
NYU is also comparable to Ivy League schools in terms of future success. Students graduating from the university are highly employable, with 96.2% of students employed or in a graduate program after 6 months.
The average annual salary of NYU students is a respectable $61,500. Other schools report an even higher starting salary, with Stern School of Business students earning $76,000 on average. This rate is on par with recent Ivy League grads who typically make around $80,000.
Where is NYU Ranked Among All Schools?
Like Ivy League schools, NYU is ranked well in major publications. US News ranks the school as #30 among national universities based on 17 factors, including graduation rates, social mobility, faculty, selectivity, and financial resources. NYU was placed as the 13th best school for veterans and second nationally in study abroad programs. These experiences promote interactions between NYU students and cultures around the world.
Niche.com, another prominent higher education website, ranks colleges by utilizing rigorous data analysis from reputable sources and verified reviews. According to Niche, NYU is #2 for Film and Photography, #3 for Best Location, #4 for Best Performing Arts, #7 for Most Diverse, and #8 for Best Big Colleges.
Parents of college students also appreciate the resources that NYU has to offer. The university is consistently ranked as a “Top 10 Dream College” by the Princeton Review. Along with beating out some Ivies, NYU is one of a select group of schools that makes the list for both parents and students alongside Stanford, Harvard, Princeton, and MIT. These results are based on a survey of over 12,500 students and parents.
New York University is globally recognized as a top school as well. It places 26th in Times Higher Education’s World University Ranking system. The school has steadily been rising through the years due to the world-class teaching, research, and international outlook.
How to Get Into NYU
Due to NYU’s impressive rankings, its acceptance is falling every year. Students need a well-rounded and competitive application to gain admission. NYU reports that the average unweighted GPA of accepted students sits at 3.7, with most students in the top 10% of their high school class. Along with stellar grades, the university expects top standardized testing scores. Most applicants score 1350 – 1500 on the SAT and 30-34 on the ACT.
If your application isn’t the strongest in grades or test scores, there are other ways to bolster your chances by showing your passions outside of the classroom. NYU requires an additional essay besides the Common App, allowing students an opportunity to explain why they are interested in the school.
NYU prizes diversity, with 22.2% of students from outside the US, the highest proportion nationwide. Mentioning how vital a diverse perspective is to you, or how you plan on taking advantage of global experiences while at NYU, is a great way to prove your interest in your collegiate essay.
Additionally, extracurriculars show your interests and passions, proving how you will contribute to the NYU community. It is better to be deeply committed to a few activities than barely involved in many, so be sure to choose extracurriculars that you are truly passionate about.
If you are planning on applying to Tisch or Steinhardt, your portfolio is the best way to show your specific talents and individuality. This may ultimately include an audition and/or interview into the arts program of your choice.
Finally, letters of recommendation provide additional insight into your character. Asking teachers or mentors who know you well can make your application stand out by providing a testimony of your best qualities.
Recap: NYU is NOT an Ivy League School, However, It is a Highly-Ranked Private University
Although NYU cannot officially call itself one of the Ivies, this highly selective school remains on par with the top colleges nationwide. The Ivy League is a designation that represents a prestigious reputation, renowned academics, and impressive research. Even without the official title, NYU continues to impress students worldwide, garnering the most applications out of any private university.
As the number of college students has grown, world-class schools such as NYU have risen to the challenge. The university provides a comprehensive education and excellent opportunities for students to participate at the top of their fields. The high research activity throughout NYU rivals the Ivies.
NYU consistently ranks at the top of nationwide and global publications, recognized for its international outlook, premier location, and academic programs. Many students and parents alike consider NYU to be a dream school that can help students follow any of their dreams and passions.
The university has proven its ability to influence the world with former students and current alumni going on to achieve incredible things. NYU alumni use the tools learned in college to become inventors, CEOs, scientists, entertainment stars, and influential politicians. Times Higher Education ranks it as the 8th Top University for Producing Millionaires.
Whether students hope to achieve groundbreaking research, study abroad in a foreign community, or achieve a career in entertainment, NYU has the resources to help them succeed.
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