New York University

What New York University Is

New York University (NYU) is a private research university founded in 1831, with its primary campus in and around Greenwich Village and Brooklyn in New York City. It is ranked 55th globally in the QS World University Rankings 2026 and is among the most internationally diverse universities in the world.

NYU enrols approximately 65,000 students across its New York campuses and global sites (NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU Shanghai are degree-granting portal campuses; additional study-away sites operate in Accra, Berlin, Buenos Aires, Florence, London, Los Angeles, Madrid, Paris, Prague, Sydney, Tel Aviv, and Washington DC). International students comprise approximately 30% of the student body, and India is consistently the top or second-largest source country.

NYU has the largest Indian student community of any university in the United States. This includes a significant presence in the Stern School of Business (undergraduate and MBA), the Tandon School of Engineering (CS, ECE, data science), the College of Arts and Science (CAS), and the School of Law. The Indian student community is well-organised, with active student groups including NYU’s Indian Student Organisation and Bhangra teams.

The university is organised into 18 schools and colleges. The most relevant for Indian students are the Stern School of Business, the Tandon School of Engineering (located in downtown Brooklyn), the College of Arts and Science (CAS, Washington Square campus), the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences (mathematics, computer science), and the Center for Data Science.

NYU is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).

Who It’s For

NYU is relevant for Indian students in several categories:

Undergraduate applicants targeting Stern Business (one of the top undergraduate business programs in the US, with an admit rate of approximately 5–8%), Computer Science (available through both CAS/Courant and Tandon), Economics, or Data Science. SAT scores of 1450+ (or ACT 33+) are typical for admitted students. English proficiency requires TOEFL 100+ or IELTS 7.5+.

Graduate applicants targeting the Stern MBA (ranked consistently in the top 10 nationally, known for finance), MS in Computer Science at Courant or Tandon, MS in Data Science at the Center for Data Science, or the JD at NYU School of Law (ranked #6 nationally). Indian students form a significant cohort in all of these programs.

Students who want New York City: NYU’s primary competitive advantage is its location. Being in Manhattan and Brooklyn provides direct access to Wall Street (finance), Silicon Alley (technology startups), media companies, publishing houses, fashion, and the UN. Internships during the academic year are common and expected. If New York City’s career ecosystem is integral to your plans, NYU offers an immersion that no other university can match.

Programs Popular with Indian Students

• Stern School of Business (Undergraduate): The BS in Business at Stern is among the top 5 undergraduate business programs in the US. Students choose concentrations in finance, accounting, management, marketing, or business analytics. Stern’s proximity to Wall Street makes it a feeder school for investment banking, consulting, and financial services. Admission is highly competitive — approximately 5–8% of applicants are admitted.

• Computer Science (Courant Institute / CAS): The CS program at the Courant Institute is housed within CAS and is ranked among the top 30 nationally. Courant’s strengths include machine learning, natural language processing, and theoretical computer science. The program benefits from research connections with NYU’s Center for Data Science and the AI research lab (CILVR).

• Computer Science / Computer Engineering (Tandon): The Tandon School of Engineering in downtown Brooklyn offers CS, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and cybersecurity programs. Tandon CS is less selective than Courant CS but provides strong engineering-focused training. Tandon also offers a BS in Data Science.

• Economics (CAS): NYU’s economics department is ranked in the top 15 globally. The undergraduate BA in Economics provides strong quantitative training and access to research opportunities.

• Mathematics (Courant): The Courant Institute is one of the top-ranked mathematics departments in the US, particularly for applied mathematics, probability, and mathematical finance.

• Stern MBA: The full-time MBA at Stern is a two-year program ranked in the top 10 nationally. It is known for its finance and luxury marketing concentrations. Median GMAT for admitted students is approximately 730.

• MS in Data Science (Center for Data Science): A highly selective two-year program that draws from computer science, statistics, and machine learning. Faculty overlap with Courant and the CILVR lab.

Campus and Location

NYU does not have a traditional enclosed campus. Its buildings are distributed across Greenwich Village (Washington Square campus), Midtown Manhattan, and downtown Brooklyn (Tandon campus). Washington Square Park, with its iconic arch, serves as the informal campus centre.

Key facilities include the Stern School building (44 West 4th Street, adjacent to Washington Square), the Courant Institute (Warren Weaver Hall), NYU Tandon’s campus at MetroTech Center in Brooklyn, and the Bobst Library (one of the largest academic libraries in the US). The Center for Data Science is located at 60 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.

New York City needs little introduction. For Indian students, the city offers:

• One of the largest and most diverse Indian diaspora communities in the US, concentrated in areas like Jackson Heights (Queens), Jersey City, and Edison (New Jersey)
• Direct flights to Indian cities from JFK and Newark airports
• Indian grocery stores, restaurants, and cultural institutions throughout the metro area
• Year-round cultural events, festivals, and professional networking opportunities

Cost of living: New York City is among the most expensive cities in the world. NYU housing ranges from USD 14,000–22,000/yr depending on the residence hall. Off-campus housing near campus (Greenwich Village, East Village, Brooklyn) costs USD 1,500–2,500/month for a shared room. Students should budget USD 25,000–30,000/yr for living expenses above tuition.

Costs and Financial Aid

NYU undergraduate tuition for 2025–26 (same for domestic and international students):

• College of Arts and Science (CAS): ~USD 62,192/yr
• Stern School of Business: ~USD 62,192/yr
• Tandon School of Engineering: ~USD 62,192/yr
• Tisch School of the Arts: ~USD 62,192/yr

NYU charges a flat undergraduate tuition rate across most schools. Total estimated cost including tuition, fees, housing, and food: approximately USD 85,000–90,000/yr.

Financial aid for international students: NYU is need-aware for international undergraduate applicants, meaning that requesting financial aid can affect admission chances. However, NYU has significantly increased its financial aid budget in recent years and meets demonstrated need for most admitted students. The average financial aid package for aided international students is approximately USD 40,000–50,000/yr. Stern provides its own scholarship awards for strong admitted students.

Graduate financial aid varies significantly by program: Stern MBA offers merit-based scholarships covering 25–100% of tuition; Tandon MS programs offer limited assistantships; PhD programs typically provide full funding.

See NYU fees for a detailed breakdown.

Things to Verify Before Applying

• Stern admission is extremely competitive: Undergraduate Stern has an admit rate of approximately 5–8%. Applicants not admitted to Stern may be offered admission to CAS or another NYU school. Internal transfer to Stern after first year is possible but very competitive.

• SAT/ACT policy: NYU has been test-optional in recent cycles but Indian applicants with strong SAT/ACT scores should submit them. Verify NYU’s current testing policy for your application year.

• English proficiency: TOEFL iBT 100+ or IELTS 7.5+. Stern and some other programs may have higher expectations in practice.

• Two CS programs: CS at Courant/CAS (Washington Square) and CS at Tandon (Brooklyn) are distinct programs with different faculty, curricula, and admissions processes. Courant CS is generally more selective and more research-oriented; Tandon CS is more engineering-focused. You apply to one specific school on your NYU application.

• Cost of attendance: NYU’s total cost (tuition + NYC living expenses) makes it one of the most expensive universities in the world. Budget carefully and verify financial aid expectations before committing.

• F-1 visa and OPT/STEM OPT: NYU STEM programs qualify for the 24-month STEM OPT extension (36 months total). Non-STEM programs (Stern undergraduate, CAS humanities) qualify for 12-month standard OPT only. This is a critical distinction for Indian students planning US careers.

• NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU Shanghai: These are separate portal campuses with their own admissions processes, financial aid (NYUAD provides full financial aid to all admitted students), and campus experiences. They share the NYU degree but differ significantly in student life and career networks.

• Housing: NYU guarantees housing for first-year undergraduate students. Returning students enter a housing lottery. NYC housing costs are a significant portion of the total budget.

Where to Go Next on This Site

• Carnegie Mellon University — top CS destination, for comparison
• University of Toronto — another major Indian student destination
• MBA — MBA programs including Stern
• BSc Computer Science — CS degree pathways
• BSc Data Science — data science programs
• BA Economics — economics programs
• BSc Mathematics — mathematics programs
• GRE — required for NYU graduate programs
• GMAT — required for Stern MBA

Sources Used

• New York University — About
• NYU Tuition and Fees
• NYU Undergraduate Admissions
• NYU Stern School of Business
• QS World University Rankings — NYU