At $35,035/yr net price, New York University graduates earn $82,509/yr within 10 years of enrollment, which is $48,509/yr above the median for high school graduates.
Cost vs. Outcomes
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Net Price (per year) | $35,035 |
| Estimated 4-Year Cost | $140,140 |
| Median Earnings (10yr post-entry) | $82,509/yr |
| Earnings Premium vs. HS Diploma | +$48,509/yr |
| Estimated Break-Even | 2.9 years |
| Graduation Rate (6-year) | 88.5% |
| Median Debt at Graduation | $20,500 |
What You'll Actually Pay
Average net price by family income
| Family Income | Estimated Net Price |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $16,816/yr |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $15,898/yr |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $18,555/yr |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $33,913/yr |
| $110,001+ | $59,931/yr |
Earnings by Major
Top programs ranked by median earnings
| Program | Level | Median Earnings | Median Debt |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced/Graduate Dentistry and Oral Sciences. | Doctoral | $178,151 | |
| Law. | Doctoral | $174,714 | |
| Business Administration, Management and Operations. | Master | $145,543 | $102,131 |
| Legal Professions and Studies, Other. | Master | $137,921 | $96,845 |
| Finance and Financial Management Services. | Master | $126,504 | |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Doctoral | $126,504 | |
| Computer/Information Technology Administration and Management. | Master | $112,328 | $71,635 |
| Registered Nursing, Nursing Administration, Nursing Research and Clinical Nursing. | Master | $111,833 | $67,284 |
| Computer and Information Sciences, General. | Master | $111,769 | $67,000 |
| Real Estate. | Master | $104,597 | $84,767 |
The Risk Factor
88.5% of students at New York University graduate within 6 years. Most students who start here finish their degree.
Analysis
NYU gives you a strong financial return, and the math backs it up. A median debt of $20,500 against median earnings of $82,509 ten years out means your loans are a fraction of a single year's pay. The 95.5% retention rate and 88.5% graduation rate tell you most people who start here finish, so you're unlikely to pay for credits that lead nowhere.
Your major matters a lot here. Nursing pays off best, clearing $94,000 with the lowest program debt on the list at $18,500. Math and statistics, finance, and general business all land in the mid-$80,000s, which fits a Manhattan campus feeding directly into New York's finance sector. Computer science trails the group at about $80,000 but still carries manageable debt near $19,500. Any of these five puts your earnings above the school-wide median.
The real risk at NYU is the sticker price, not the debt. Net price runs $35,035 a year, and the top families pay nearly $60,000 annually. If your household earns over $110,000, you'll pay close to double what a family under $48,000 pays. That gap is the thing to watch: high earners get little price relief here, and majors outside the high-paying five aren't listed, so you can't count on an $80,000 outcome from every program.
NYU is a good fit for you if you're headed into nursing, finance, business, or tech and your family income sits under $48,000, where net price drops below $16,000. If you're aiming at a lower-paying field and your family clears $110,000, you'll pay top dollar with no earnings data to justify it, and you should compare cheaper options before committing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is New York University worth the high cost?
NYU's ROI depends heavily on your major. Business and law graduates earn $145,000-$175,000 annually, making the investment worthwhile, but many other programs don't justify the $35,000 annual net cost.
What are the best paying majors at New York University?
Dentistry leads at $178,000 annually, followed by law at $175,000 and business at $146,000. These programs offer strong returns that can offset NYU's high tuition costs.
How much debt do New York University graduates typically have?
NYU graduates carry a median debt of $20,500, which is manageable for high-earning majors like business and law but risky for lower-paying fields.
Does New York University provide good financial aid?
With a net price of $35,000 per year, NYU's financial aid brings costs down from the full sticker price but still leaves families paying significantly more than most public universities.