USC vs. NYU

Deciding between University of Southern California 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.

University of Southern California
New York University

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

  • Overview

  • Location
  • USC Los Angeles, CA
  • NYU New York, NY
  • Setting
  • USC Large City
  • NYU Large City
  • Total enrollment
  • USC 46,566
  • NYU 56,832
  • Type
  • USC Private 4 Year
  • NYU Private 4 Year
  • National Ranking
  • USC #37
  • NYU #43
  • Religious Affiliation
  • USC -
  • NYU -
  • Status
  • USC Non-profit
  • NYU Non-profit
  • Team Colors
  • USC
  • NYU

  • Cost

  • Tuition (In State)
  • USC $72,097
  • NYU $62,796
  • Tuition (Out of State)
  • USC $72,097
  • NYU $62,796
  • Room & Board
  • USC $19,931
  • NYU $23,530
  • Average Net Price
  • USC $43,412
  • NYU $30,325
  • Average Grant Aid
  • USC $46,897
  • NYU $53,901
  • % Receiving Grant Aid
  • USC 70%
  • NYU 37%

  • Admissions

  • Applied
  • USC 82,027
  • NYU 110,807
  • Admitted
  • USC 8,050
  • NYU 10,232
  • Acceptance Rate
  • USC 9.8%
  • NYU 9.2%
  • Enrolled
  • USC 43.3%
  • NYU 55.4%
  • Typical SAT score
  • USC 1500
  • NYU 1520
  • Typical ACT score
  • USC 33
  • NYU 34
  • Average High School GPA
  • USC 3.83
  • NYU 3.79
  • Typical High School Grades
  • USC A-
  • NYU A-
  • Admissions Standards
  • USC Elite
  • NYU Elite
  • Applicant Competition
  • USC Very High
  • NYU Extreme
  • ACT Range
  • USC 32/35
  • NYU 34/35
  • SAT Range
  • USC 1450/1550
  • NYU 1480/1560
  • Submit Test Scores
  • USC Test optional
  • NYU Test optional
  • Application Deadline
  • USC
  • NYU

  • Academics

  • Student to Faculty Ratio
  • USC 9:1
  • NYU 8:1
  • Popular Majors
  • USC
    • Business (25%)
    • Social Sciences (15%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (13%)
    • Communication (9%)
    • Engineering (8%)
  • NYU
    • Business (19%)
    • Visual and Performing Arts (18%)
    • Social Sciences (14%)
    • Liberal Arts and Humanities (10%)
    • Communication (9%)

  • Outcomes

  • Graduation Rate
  • USC 90%
  • NYU 86%
  • Median Earnings (After 10 years)
  • USC $85,500
  • NYU $76,000
  • Making Student Loan Payments
  • USC 81%
  • NYU 77%
  • Median Student Loan Debt
  • USC $22,375
  • NYU $23,250
  • Median Loan Payment
  • USC $231
  • NYU $240

  • Diversity

  • % Men
  • USC 47%
  • NYU 42%
  • % Women
  • USC 53%
  • NYU 58%
  • Racial Diversity
  • USC Very High
  • NYU Very High
  • HBCU
  • USC No
  • NYU No
  • % White
  • USC 40%
  • NYU 34%
  • % Asian
  • USC 22%
  • NYU 20%
  • % Black
  • USC 4%
  • NYU 5%
  • % Hispanic
  • USC 14%
  • NYU 12%
  • % Native American
  • USC 0%
  • NYU 0%
  • % Pacific Islander
  • USC 0%
  • NYU 0%
  • % Two or More Races
  • USC 5%
  • NYU 4%
  • % International
  • USC 13%
  • NYU 17%
  • % Unknown Race
  • USC 1%
  • NYU 8%

  • Students

  • % In-State
  • USC 42%
  • NYU 26%
  • % Out-of-State
  • USC 39%
  • NYU 49%

  • Campus

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

Comparable Facts

Compare University of Southern California in Los Angeles, CA 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 USC based on total student enrollment (56,832 students vs. 46,566 students)

Location, institution type, and student-faculty ratio

  • University of Southern California is located in Los Angeles, CA (Large City setting); New York University is in New York, NY (Large City setting).
  • University of Southern California is a private, non-profit 4-year institution. New York University is a private, non-profit 4-year institution.
  • Student-to-faculty ratio: University of Southern California 9:1; New York University 8:1.

USC vs. NYU Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, USC 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 New York University than USC ($30,325 vs. $43,412).
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at University of Southern California are 15.3% lower than at New York University ($19,931 vs. $23,530).
  • University of Southern California is 14.8% more expensive for in-state tuition than NYU (about $9,301 more per year; $72,097.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • Out-of-state tuition is 14.8% higher at USC than at New York University (about $9,301 more per year; $72,097.00 vs. $62,796.00).
  • A larger share of students receive grant aid at University of Southern California than at New York University (70% vs. 37%).
  • The average total grant financial aid received by New York University students is 14.9% larger than aid received by University of Southern California students ($53,901 vs. $46,897).

USC vs. NYU Admissions comparison

Which college is harder to get into, USC 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 USC.

  • The typical SAT score (median estimate) at New York University (1520) is 20 points higher than at USC (1500).
  • Incoming NYU students have a 1 point higher typical ACT composite (median estimate) (34 vs. 33 at USC).
  • Reported middle 50% SAT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Southern California 1450/1550; New York University 1480/1560.
  • Reported middle 50% ACT composite range (25th-75th percentile) for admitted students: University of Southern California 32/35; New York University 34/35.
  • Submitting SAT or ACT scores: USC - Test optional; NYU - Test optional.
  • Accepted freshman USC students have a 0.04 point higher average high school GPA (3.83) than students at NYU (3.79).
  • USC has a higher acceptance rate (9.8%) than NYU (9.2%).
  • The share of admitted students who enrolled (yield) is 43.3% at USC vs. 55.4% at NYU.

USC vs. NYU Graduation Outcomes Comparison

How do outcomes compare for USC 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).

  • University of Southern California's six-year graduation rate (90%) is higher than New York University's (86%).
  • Graduates from University of Southern California earn a median of about $9,500 more per year than NYU graduates about ten years after starting college ($85,500 vs. $76,000), per the same Scorecard earnings definition.
  • Among federal student loan borrowers, University of Southern California graduates have a $875 lower median loan debt than NYU graduates ($22,375 vs. $23,250).
  • Among borrowers, USC graduates have an estimated $9 lower median monthly federal student loan payment than NYU graduates ($231 vs. $240).
  • More USC graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former NYU students, three years after graduation. (81% 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.