Diversity at NYU

Hey guys, I'm interested in applying to NYU and wanted to know how diverse the campus community is. Could anyone here shed some light on the demographic breakdown of the student body at NYU in terms of ethnicity, socioeconomic background, and international students? Thanks a lot!

Hello! NYU is well-known for its diverse campus community. I'll provide a general breakdown of NYU's student body demographics to give you an idea of the diversity in terms of ethnicity, socioeconomic background, and international students:

1. Ethnicity: NYU is quite ethnically diverse, with students from various racial and ethnic groups. According to recent data (subject to change), the rough percentages for NYU's undergraduate ethnic demographics are as follows:

- White: 40%

- Asian: 25%

- Hispanic or Latino: 17%

- Black or African American: 8%

- Two or more races: 6%

- Native American, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander: <1%

2. Socioeconomic Background: NYU is dedicated to increasing socio-economic diversity among its student body. Over 20% of its students receive Pell Grants, which are awarded to low-income families. However, it's worth noting that NYU has been criticized for not being as generous with financial aid as some peer institutions. As a result, the income levels of NYU students can still be skewed toward the middle and upper ranges in comparison to other universities. The New York Times published a study in 2017 showing that a significant percentage (almost 36%) of the student body at NYU came from the top 10% of income earners.

3. International Students: NYU is renowned for having a large and diverse international student population. About 20% of the undergraduate population consists of international students, representing over 120 countries. These students help create a global and multicultural environment on campus, which gives you the chance to interact with students from various nationalities, cultures, and perspectives.

It’s also worth noting that NYU benefits from being right in the heart of downtown New York City, so you will certainly be exposed to a wide range of people while going about your daily life as a student, even if they are not all your peers at NYU.

Finally, NYU is committed to expanding its students’ horizons beyond New York City; this commitment is shown by the institution’s own campuses in international cities like Florence and Abu Dhabi. If study abroad is something you hope will be a part of your college experience, NYU could be a great fit for you.

In summary, NYU has a fairly diverse campus community when it comes to ethnicity and the international student population. However, when considering socio-economic diversity, there is still room for improvement.

If you decide that NYU is a place where you’d feel at home and want tips on how to craft the strongest application possible, check out this blog post from CollegeVine, which breaks down how to tackle their school-specific supplemental essays: https://blog.collegevine.com/how-to-write-the-nyu-essays/. The essays are a great opportunity to showcase what you personally would bring to NYU’s already-vibrant campus community.

Good luck with your college search!