NYU today sent out offers of admission to a talented and diverse group of students from its largest-ever application pool, which exceeded 105,000 applications this year (a 5% increase over last year).
Only 12.2% of applicants received offers of admission to NYU’s New York campus—another record. Three of NYU’s undergraduate colleges offered admission to fewer than 10% of applicants—including the College of Arts and Science (7%), the Stern School of Business (7%), and the Rory Meyers College of Nursing (3%)—from NYU’s record-breaking pool.
“Even with the ongoing challenges presented by the pandemic, this group inspires us, coming from a wide range of interests, passions, and backgrounds to make up one of the most diverse applicant pools in NYU history,” said Jonathan Williams, Assistant Vice President for Undergraduate Admissions. “With all the turmoil in the world and reasons to be pessimistic about our future, these future leaders and changemakers inspire us to remain hopeful.”
Despite the size and selectivity of the applicant pool, NYU remains unwavering in its commitment to diversity and access to higher education for all talented students. When the first-year class of approximately 5,700 students arrives on campus this fall, the class will have no racial or ethnic majority, and the University expects that about 66% of domestic students on campus will identify as students of color. The admitted class of 2026 hails from 49 states, the District of Columbia, and represents 107 countries—five more than last year. 19.4% of the admitted class will be the first in their families to attend college.
Based on projections, over 1,100 of the incoming class will be Pell Grant recipients, and more than 200 students will be enrolled through the New York State Collegiate Science Technology and Education Program (CSTEP) and Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), which help underrepresented students succeed in their pursuit of higher education through funding and on-campus support services. The University’s ability to support these students has grown substantially as well; CSTEP students will receive grants this year that are 45% larger than in 2019.
As students continue to find their way out of the COVID-19 pandemic, NYU, which already has one of the most flexible standardized testing policies in higher education, continued its COVID-related test-optional policy for this application cycle, and intends to do the same for 2023-2024. Nevertheless, the admitted class represents a median SAT score of 1550—yet another record.
Mr. Williams continued, “NYU’s record-breaking selectivity and test scores have not clouded the passion of the admissions team for the unique and compelling stories of each applicant. One student created a 501(c)3 to address global racial change, and has grown this initiative to reach 9 countries with over 200 members. Another student established a home-food delivery program to help support his family who had lost their source of income due to the pandemic. The bold and resilient nature of our students is the true story of the Class of 2026.”
In the coming weeks, NYU looks forward to offering admitted student events on campus for the first time since the start of the pandemic. Through April, NYU will offer a combination of virtual and in-person events to admitted students, who have until May 1 to respond to their offers of admission.