Wellesley vs. NYU

Deciding between Wellesley College 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.

Wellesley College
New York University

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  • Overview

  • Location
  • Wellesley Wellesley, MA
  • NYU New York, NY
  • Setting
  • Wellesley Large Suburban
  • NYU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • Wellesley 2,407
  • NYU 56,832
  • Type
  • Wellesley Private 4 Year
  • NYU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • Wellesley #18
  • NYU #43
  • Religious Affiliation
  • Wellesley -
  • NYU -
  • Status
  • Wellesley Non-profit
  • NYU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • Wellesley
  • NYU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • Wellesley $67,176
  • NYU $62,796
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • Wellesley $67,176
  • NYU $62,796
  • Room & Board
  • Wellesley $21,024
  • NYU $23,530
  • Average Net Price
  • Wellesley $22,174
  • NYU $30,325
  • Average Grant Aid
  • Wellesley $64,116
  • NYU $53,901
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • Wellesley 54%
  • NYU 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • Wellesley 8,714
  • NYU 110,807
  • Admitted
  • Wellesley 1,224
  • NYU 10,232
  • Acceptance Rate
  • Wellesley 14%
  • NYU 9.2%
  • Enrolled
  • Wellesley 47.6%
  • NYU 55.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • Wellesley 1510
  • NYU 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • Wellesley 34
  • NYU 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • Wellesley 3.86
  • NYU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • Wellesley A
  • NYU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • Wellesley Elite
  • NYU Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • Wellesley Very High
  • NYU Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • Wellesley 33/35
  • NYU 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • Wellesley 1460/1560
  • NYU 1480/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • Wellesley Test optional
  • NYU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • Wellesley Jan 8, 2027
  • NYU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • Wellesley 7:1
  • NYU 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • Wellesley
    • Social Sciences (28%)
    • Biology (9%)
    • Ethnic Studies (9%)
    • Foreign Languages (9%)
    • Psychology (8%)
  • NYU
    • Business (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (18%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Communication (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • Wellesley 92%
  • NYU 86%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • Wellesley $68,100
  • NYU $76,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • Wellesley 86%
  • NYU 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • Wellesley $8,900
  • NYU $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • Wellesley $92
  • NYU $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • Wellesley 2%
  • NYU 42%
  • % Women
  • Wellesley 98%
  • NYU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • Wellesley Very High
  • NYU Very High
  • HBCU
  • Wellesley No
  • NYU No
  • % White
  • Wellesley 40%
  • NYU 34%
  • % Asian
  • Wellesley 23%
  • NYU 20%
  • % Black
  • Wellesley 6%
  • NYU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • Wellesley 11%
  • NYU 12%
  • % Native American
  • Wellesley 0%
  • NYU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • Wellesley 0%
  • NYU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • Wellesley 6%
  • NYU 4%
  • % International
  • Wellesley 12%
  • NYU 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • Wellesley 4%
  • NYU 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • Wellesley 12%
  • NYU 26%
  • % Out-of-State
  • Wellesley 73%
  • NYU 49%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare Wellesley College in Wellesley, MA 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 Wellesley based on total student enrollment (56,832 students vs. 2,407 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

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

Wellesley vs. NYU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Wellesley 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 Wellesley College than NYU ($22,174 vs. $30,325).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Wellesley College are 10.7% lower than at New York University ($21,024 vs. $23,530).
  • Wellesley College is 7% more expensive for in-state tuition than NYU (about $4,380 more per year; $67,176.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 7% higher at Wellesley than at New York University (about $4,380 more per year; $67,176.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at Wellesley College than at New York University (54% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Wellesley College students is 19% larger than aid received by New York University students ($64,116 vs. $53,901).

Wellesley vs. NYU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Wellesley 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 Wellesley.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at New York University (1520) is 10 points higher than at Wellesley (1510).
  • Incoming Wellesley 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: Wellesley College 1460/1560; New York University 1480/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: Wellesley College 33/35; New York University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: Wellesley - Test optional; NYU - Test optional.
  • Typical fall application deadline: Wellesley Jan 8, 2027.
  • Accepted freshman Wellesley students have a 0.07 point higher average high school GPA (3.86) than students at NYU (3.79).
  • Wellesley has a higher acceptance rate (14%) than NYU (9.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 47.6% at Wellesley vs. 55.4% at NYU.

Wellesley vs. NYU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for Wellesley 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).

  • Wellesley College's six-year graduation rate (92%) is higher than New York University's (86%).
  • Graduates from New York University earn a median of about $7,900 more per year than Wellesley graduates about ten years after starting college ($76,000 vs. $68,100), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, Wellesley College graduates have a $14,350 lower median loan debt than NYU graduates ($8,900 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, Wellesley graduates have an estimated $148 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NYU graduates ($92 vs. $240).
  • More Wellesley graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NYU students, three years after graduation. (86% 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.