New York University is the American university that most obviously is its city: there is no walled campus, no quad set apart from Manhattan, and no separation between student life and New York life. Classrooms sit in Greenwich Village, students live across the city, and internships, studios, theatres and firms are part of the curriculum rather than an addition to it. For international students, NYU is also one of the largest hosts in the United States, with a global network that includes full degree campuses in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai and study-away sites on five continents.
Schools and programmes
The College of Arts and Science is NYU's largest school, covering the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences, with particular strength in economics, mathematics, philosophy and media studies. The Stern School of Business is one of the most selective undergraduate business programmes in the country, built around finance, marketing and management with deep Wall Street connections. The Tisch School of the Arts covers film and television, drama, dance, photography, recorded music and interactive media, and admission is portfolio- or audition-based in addition to academics. The Tandon School of Engineering, in Brooklyn, covers computer science, electrical and computer engineering, civil and mechanical engineering, and is NYU's most technically focused school. The Steinhardt School covers education, health, media and applied psychology, and the Rory Meyers College of Nursing and the Silver School of Social Work complete a breadth that suits students who know their field.
Fees, housing, and the New York factor
Tuition at NYU varies by school, and the total cost is dominated by housing: New York rents are the highest in the country, and NYU's own housing charges reflect that. Reported 2026-27 tuition of around $62,000 to $68,000, plus housing, meals, books and personal expenses, takes the total cost of attendance above $90,000 — confirm your school's exact published figure on NYU's cost page. Financial aid for international students exists but is limited and competitive; NYU does not meet full demonstrated need for most international students, so families should budget close to the full cost. The Abu Dhabi and Shanghai campuses are a separate and important option: both admit independently, both are need-blind for admission in the sense that aid is assessed separately, and both offer substantially more generous aid packages than the New York campus for many international students. A student who wants an NYU degree but cannot afford New York prices should investigate Abu Dhabi and Shanghai before ruling NYU out.
Admissions and deadlines
NYU uses the Common Application with Early Decision I on 1 November, Early Decision II on 1 January, and Regular Decision on 1 January. Early Decision is binding — if admitted, you enrol and withdraw other applications — so apply ED only to a clear first choice where the cost works without comparing aid offers. Portfolio and audition requirements apply to Tisch and to several other creative programmes, and those materials have their own deadlines and formats that must be checked on the relevant school's page. English proficiency must be demonstrated through an accepted test where required. The campus question matters more at NYU than anywhere else: there is no traditional campus, and students who want lawns, quads and a self-contained college town will not find them here. Students who want the city as their campus will find nowhere better.
FAQs
How much is NYU tuition? Reported 2026-27 tuition is around $62,000–$68,000 depending on the school, with total costs above $90,000 including New York housing.
What are NYU's deadlines? Early Decision I 1 November; Early Decision II and Regular Decision 1 January, through the Common Application.
Does NYU give aid to international students? Aid exists but is limited and competitive in New York; the Abu Dhabi and Shanghai campuses offer substantially more generous aid for many international students.
Does NYU have a campus? No traditional walled campus — NYU is integrated into Greenwich Village and Manhattan.
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Sources and verification: NYU schools and identities (Stern, Tisch, Tandon, Steinhardt), reported 2026-27 tuition around $62,000–$68,000 by school with total costs above $90,000, Early Decision I 1 November, Early Decision II and Regular Decision 1 January, Common Application, Abu Dhabi and Shanghai campuses admitting separately — per NYU published admissions and cost information. Exact school tuition, portfolio/audition requirements and testing policy to be confirmed on NYU's official pages.