WUSTL vs. NYU

Deciding between Washington University in St Louis 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.

Washington University in St Louis
New York University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • WUSTL St. Louis, MO
  • NYU New York, NY
  • Setting
  • WUSTL Large Suburban
  • NYU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • WUSTL 16,357
  • NYU 56,832
  • Type
  • WUSTL Private 4 Year
  • NYU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • WUSTL #21
  • NYU #43
  • Religious Affiliation
  • WUSTL -
  • NYU -
  • Status
  • WUSTL Non-profit
  • NYU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • WUSTL
  • NYU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • WUSTL $65,790
  • NYU $62,796
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • WUSTL $65,790
  • NYU $62,796
  • Room & Board
  • WUSTL $21,854
  • NYU $23,530
  • Average Net Price
  • WUSTL $22,408
  • NYU $30,325
  • Average Grant Aid
  • WUSTL $66,080
  • NYU $53,901
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • WUSTL 49%
  • NYU 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • WUSTL 32,754
  • NYU 110,807
  • Admitted
  • WUSTL 3,951
  • NYU 10,232
  • Acceptance Rate
  • WUSTL 12.1%
  • NYU 9.2%
  • Enrolled
  • WUSTL 46.7%
  • NYU 55.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • WUSTL 1540
  • NYU 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • WUSTL 34
  • NYU 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • WUSTL 3.92
  • NYU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • WUSTL A
  • NYU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • WUSTL Elite
  • NYU Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • WUSTL Very High
  • NYU Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • WUSTL 33/35
  • NYU 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • WUSTL 1500/1570
  • NYU 1480/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • WUSTL Test optional
  • NYU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • WUSTL Jan 4, 2027
  • NYU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • WUSTL 7:1
  • NYU 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • WUSTL
    • Business (17%)
    • Social Sciences (16%)
    • Engineering (11%)
    • Psychology (8%)
    • Biology (7%)
  • NYU
    • Business (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (18%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Communication (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • WUSTL 93%
  • NYU 86%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • WUSTL $82,800
  • NYU $76,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • WUSTL 88%
  • NYU 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • WUSTL $19,900
  • NYU $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • WUSTL $205
  • NYU $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • WUSTL 47%
  • NYU 42%
  • % Women
  • WUSTL 53%
  • NYU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • WUSTL High
  • NYU Very High
  • HBCU
  • WUSTL No
  • NYU No
  • % White
  • WUSTL 55%
  • NYU 34%
  • % Asian
  • WUSTL 19%
  • NYU 20%
  • % Black
  • WUSTL 6%
  • NYU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • WUSTL 7%
  • NYU 12%
  • % Native American
  • WUSTL 0%
  • NYU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • WUSTL 0%
  • NYU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • WUSTL 4%
  • NYU 4%
  • % International
  • WUSTL 8%
  • NYU 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • WUSTL 2%
  • NYU 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • WUSTL 15%
  • NYU 26%
  • % Out-of-State
  • WUSTL 73%
  • NYU 49%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Washington University in St Louis in St. Louis, MO 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 WUSTL based on total student enrollment (56,832 students vs. 16,357 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • Washington University in St Louis is located in St. Louis, MO (Large Suburban setting); New York University is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • Washington University in St Louis is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. New York University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: Washington University in St Louis 7:1; New York University 8:1.

WUSTL vs. NYU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, WUSTL 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 Washington University in St Louis than NYU ($22,408 vs. $30,325).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Washington University in St Louis are 7.1% lower than at New York University ($21,854 vs. $23,530).
  • Washington University in St Louis is 4.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than NYU (about $2,994 more per year; $65,790.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 4.8% higher at WUSTL than at New York University (about $2,994 more per year; $65,790.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Washington University in St Louis than at New York University (49% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Washington University in St Louis students is 22.6% larger than aid received by New York University students ($66,080 vs. $53,901).

WUSTL vs. NYU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, WUSTL 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 WUSTL .

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at Washington University in St Louis (1540) is 20 points higher than at NYU (1520).
  • Incoming WUSTL 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: Washington University in St Louis 1500/1570; New York University 1480/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Washington University in St Louis 33/35; New York University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: WUSTL - Test optional; NYU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: WUSTL Jan 4, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman WUSTL students have a 0.13 point higher average high school GPA (3.92) than students at NYU (3.79).
  • WUSTL has a higher acceptance rate (12.1%) than NYU (9.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 46.7% at WUSTL vs. 55.4% at NYU.

WUSTL vs. NYU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for WUSTL 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).

  • Washington University in St Louis's six-year graduation rate (93%) is higher than New York University's (86%).
  • Graduates from Washington University in St Louis earn a median of about $6,800 more per year than NYU graduates about ten years after starting college ($82,800 vs. $76,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Washington University in St Louis graduates have a $3,350 lower median loan debt than NYU graduates ($19,900 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, WUSTL graduates have an estimated $35 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NYU graduates ($205 vs. $240).
  • More WUSTL graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NYU students, three years after graduation. (88% 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.