Northwestern vs. NYU

Deciding between Northwestern University and New York University? The table below shows tuition, aid, admissions, and outcomes side by side. Data comes from public sources across more than 3,000 U.S. colleges and universities. No account is required.

Northwestern University
New York University

Frequently compared to these colleges. Click a college to add to the comparison. 

  • Overview

  • Location
  • Northwestern Evanston, IL
  • NYU New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Northwestern Small City
  • NYU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Northwestern 23,856
  • NYU 56,832
  • Type
  • Northwestern Private 4 Year
  • NYU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Northwestern #15
  • NYU #43
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Northwestern -
  • NYU -
  • Status
  • Northwestern Non-profit
  • NYU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Northwestern
  • NYU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Northwestern $68,322
  • NYU $62,796
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Northwestern $68,322
  • NYU $62,796
  • Room & Board
  • Northwestern $21,126
  • NYU $23,530
  • Average Net Price
  • Northwestern $26,830
  • NYU $30,325
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Northwestern $64,429
  • NYU $53,901
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Northwestern 53%
  • NYU 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Northwestern 49,474
  • NYU 110,807
  • Admitted
  • Northwestern 3,806
  • NYU 10,232
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Northwestern 7.7%
  • NYU 9.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Northwestern 55.3%
  • NYU 55.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Northwestern 1540
  • NYU 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • Northwestern 34
  • NYU 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Northwestern 3.92
  • NYU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Northwestern A
  • NYU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Northwestern Elite
  • NYU Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Northwestern Extreme
  • NYU Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Northwestern 33/35
  • NYU 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Northwestern 1510/1570
  • NYU 1480/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Northwestern Test optional
  • NYU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Northwestern Jan 1, 2027
  • NYU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Northwestern 6:1
  • NYU 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Northwestern
    • Social Sciences (25%)
    • Communication (14%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • NYU
    • Business (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (18%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Communication (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Northwestern 94%
  • NYU 86%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Northwestern $89,800
  • NYU $76,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Northwestern 87%
  • NYU 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Northwestern $19,378
  • NYU $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Northwestern $200
  • NYU $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Northwestern 45%
  • NYU 42%
  • % Women
  • Northwestern 55%
  • NYU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Northwestern High
  • NYU Very High
  • HBCU
  • Northwestern No
  • NYU No
  • % White
  • Northwestern 50%
  • NYU 34%
  • % Asian
  • Northwestern 17%
  • NYU 20%
  • % Black
  • Northwestern 6%
  • NYU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Northwestern 12%
  • NYU 12%
  • % Native American
  • Northwestern 0%
  • NYU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Northwestern 0%
  • NYU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Northwestern 5%
  • NYU 4%
  • % International
  • Northwestern 8%
  • NYU 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Northwestern 2%
  • NYU 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Northwestern 19%
  • NYU 26%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Northwestern 66%
  • NYU 49%

  • Campus

  • Campus Housing
  • Northwestern Yes
  • NYU Yes
  • Freshman Dorm Required
  • Northwestern No
  • NYU No
  • Meal Plan
  • Northwestern Yes
  • NYU Yes
  • Weekend/Evening Classes
  • Northwestern Yes
  • NYU No
  • Daycare Facility
  • Northwestern No
  • NYU No

Comparable Facts

Compare Northwestern University in Evanston, IL with New York University in New York, NY on tuition, admissions, graduation, earnings, and student body data using the table above.

New York University is larger than Northwestern based on total student enrollment (56,832 students vs. 23,856 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Northwestern University is located in Evanston, IL (Small City setting); New York University is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Northwestern University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. New York University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Northwestern University 6:1; New York University 8:1.

Northwestern vs. NYU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Northwestern or NYU? Published tuition is the sticker price; many students pay less after aid (see average net price below).

  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Northwestern University than NYU ($26,830 vs. $30,325).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Northwestern University are 10.2% lower than at New York University ($21,126 vs. $23,530).
  • Northwestern University is 8.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than NYU (about $5,526 more per year; $68,322.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 8.8% higher at Northwestern than at New York University (about $5,526 more per year; $68,322.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Northwestern University than at New York University (53% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Northwestern University students is 19.5% larger than aid received by New York University students ($64,429 vs. $53,901).

Northwestern vs. NYU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Northwestern or NYU? Typical SAT and ACT scores (same estimates as in the table above), middle 50% test ranges where reported, test score submission policy, deadlines, and acceptance rates summarize admission difficulty between NYU and Northwestern.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Northwestern University (1540) is 20 points higher than at NYU (1520).
  • Incoming Northwestern students have the same typical ACT composite (median estimate; 34) as students at NYU (34).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northwestern University 1510/1570; New York University 1480/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Northwestern University 33/35; New York University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Northwestern - Test optional; NYU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Northwestern Jan 1, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Northwestern students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at NYU (3.79).
  • NYU has a higher acceptance rate (9.2%) than Northwestern (7.7%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 55.3% at Northwestern vs. 55.4% at NYU.

Northwestern vs. NYU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Northwestern and NYU? Graduation rate, earnings, and student loan debt are common indicators. The bullets below summarize the same federal outcomes fields as the comparison table (College Scorecard / IPEDS where applicable).

  • Northwestern University's six-year graduation rate (94%) is higher than New York University's (86%).
  • Graduates from Northwestern University earn a median of about $13,800 more per year than NYU graduates about ten years after starting college ($89,800 vs. $76,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Northwestern University graduates have a $3,872 lower median loan debt than NYU graduates ($19,378 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, Northwestern graduates have an estimated $40 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NYU graduates ($200 vs. $240).
  • More Northwestern graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NYU students, three years after graduation. (87% vs. 77%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/. Values reflect the most recent year available in our dataset.