By Ryan Mercer · CampusROI Editorial Team
Is NYU Worth It? The ROI Data on New York University (2026)
NYU costs $62,796/year in tuition. The net price after aid is $37,050. Graduates earn $82,509 at 10 years. Whether that math works depends almost entirely on what you study.
NYU costs $62,796 per year in tuition - before room, board, and fees push total attendance costs past $90,000. It's one of the most frequently Googled "is it worth it?" schools in the country, and for good reason: the price is hard to look at without running the math.
Here's the data.
NYU by the Numbers
| Metric | NYU |
|---|---|
| CampusROI Score | 84/100 - Strong Value |
| Tuition (2026) | $62,796/year |
| Average net price after aid | $37,050/year |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $148,200 |
| Median earnings (10 years out) | $82,509 |
| Median debt at graduation | $20,500 |
| 6-year graduation rate | 87.6% |
| Acceptance rate | 9.2% |
| Estimated payback period | 6.1 years |
The Cost Reality
$62,796 is the sticker price. What you actually pay depends heavily on income:
| Family Income | Avg Net Price at NYU |
|---|---|
| $0-$30,000 | $16,977/year |
| $30,001-$48,000 | $14,017/year |
| $48,001-$75,000 | $16,862/year |
| $75,001-$110,000 | $32,766/year |
| $110,001+ | $66,876/year |
What Graduates Actually Earn
NYU's overall median of $82,509 at 10 years masks massive variation by major:
| Major | 4-Year Median Earnings | Debt-to-Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nursing | $118,433 | 0.23 | A |
| Management Science / Quant | $158,559 | 0.17 | A |
| Computer Science | $142,495 | 0.23 | A |
| Computer Engineering | $127,201 | 0.23 | A |
| Urban Studies | $81,123 | n/a | - |
Film, arts, humanities, and social sciences are a different story. NYU's Tisch School of the Arts is world-class by reputation - the financial outcomes for most graduates are not.
How NYU Compares to Alternatives
If you're weighing NYU, you should compare it against:
CUNY Baruch College - $3,033/year net price, $76K median earnings. If you live in New York City and your major is business or finance, Baruch is one of the highest-ROI schools in the country. NYU's business outcomes are better, but the price difference has to justify the gap.
Rutgers-Newark - $19,703 net price, $74K median earnings. Strong outcomes for a public school, 60% lower cost than NYU.
Fordham University - Similar reputation category to NYU, net price of ~$30,000, earnings around $68K. NYU wins on outcomes; the question is whether the margin justifies $7K more per year.
The Verdict
NYU scores 84/100 - legitimately Strong Value when you account for low median debt and solid outcomes for its graduates overall. But that average conceals a wide range.
NYU is worth it if: You're studying CS, nursing, quantitative finance, or another high-earning STEM program, and your family qualifies for meaningful aid (under $75K income). The combination of strong program reputation and reasonable net cost produces excellent ROI.
NYU is not worth it if: You're paying close to full price ($60,000+/year) for a humanities, arts, or social science degree. The earnings outcomes for those programs don't support a $240,000+ investment.
The honest framing: NYU's brand is a premium. The financial premium is justified for high-earning programs. It is not justified for most of the rest. Decide which side of that line your major falls on before committing.
All data from College Scorecard, as of 2026. Net prices are averages - individual aid packages vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is NYU worth the cost?
For STEM and nursing majors, yes - NYU CS graduates earn $142K four years out, and nursing graduates earn $118K. For humanities and fine arts majors, the math is much harder to justify at $37K/year net price.
What is NYU's ROI score?
NYU scores 84/100 on CampusROI's scale - Strong Value. It scores particularly well on debt-to-earnings ratio (90/100) and completion rate (95/100), but lower on earnings premium relative to cost (71/100).
What is the average net price at NYU?
The average net price is $37,050/year after grants and scholarships. For families earning under $48,000, net price drops to $14,000-$17,000/year. Families earning above $110,000 typically pay close to full price: $66,876/year average.
Run your own numbers
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