New York University

New York, NY · founded 1831 · 59,900 students · private research university · NCAA Division III (UAA - University Athletic Association)

Known for: NYU is famous for its location in Greenwich Village, world-class arts programs (Tisch School), top-ranked business school (Stern), and extensive global campus network. It is one of the largest private universities in the U.S. and known for producing creative professionals, entrepreneurs, and leaders across diverse fields.

Rankings

U.S. News national: #35
QS World: #38
Times Higher Education: #27
ARWU Shanghai: #27
Forbes: #26

Top programmes

Film and Television
Business (Stern)
Drama
Law
Mathematics
Philosophy

Notable alumni

Martin Scorsese — Academy Award-winning film director
Spike Lee — Acclaimed filmmaker and director
Lady Gaga — Grammy and Oscar-winning singer and actress
Alec Baldwin — Emmy-winning actor
Anne Hathaway — Academy Award-winning actress
Rudy Giuliani — Former Mayor of New York City
Alan Greenspan — Former Chairman of the Federal Reserve
Tom Ford — Fashion designer and film director

Traditions

Strawberry Festival (spring celebration in Washington Square Park)
Violet Ball
NYU Celebrates (homecoming)
Midnight Breakfast during finals
Torch Lighting Ceremony

If New York University were…

As a food: Momofuku's prix fixe — expensive, hyped, undeniably New York — You're paying a premium for the location and the name, the experience is undeniably cosmopolitan and ambitious, and you'll either love the independence or miss having a campus. It's haute cuisine, not comfort food — thri
As an athlete: Kevin Durant — Elite talent who chose the big market, thrives on the pressure and spotlight of performing in front of millions, and has the confidence to go his own way without needing team tradition. NYU students are lone wolves who w
As a person alive today: Lady Gaga — Tisch dropout who became a global icon by being unapologetically herself, blending high art with pop culture, and conquering New York before conquering the world. NYU is where you go to become famous, not to find yoursel
As a historical figure: Andy Warhol — Made art out of commerce and celebrity, understood that location and branding are everything, and turned the grind of the city into his aesthetic. NYU students are the Factory kids of the 21st century — ambitious, ironic
As a movie or TV show: Gossip Girl — Glamorous, expensive, set against iconic Manhattan backdrops, and full of ambitious young people trying to make it in the city without a safety net. The campus is the city, the city is the campus, and everyone's trying t
As a US president: Theodore Roosevelt — Born into New York privilege, boundless energy and ambition, believed in bold action over cautious deliberation, and made his mark through sheer force of personality. NYU students are the Rough Riders of higher ed — char
As a city: New York City — Because NYU literally is New York — no gates, no quad, no separation between student life and city life. You're not visiting the city on weekends; you're fighting for subway space and overpriced apartments with eight mil
As an element: Mercury — Liquid metal that doesn't solidify easily, adapts to any container, and is both useful and slightly toxic in high doses. NYU students are fluid, independent, and thrive in the pressure of the city, but the lack of tradit
As a car: 2019 BMW i3 (Greenwich Village spec) — An urban-electric, design-forward hatchback that parks in SoHo, charges in Brooklyn, and never apologizes for its $80K liberal arts degree. NYU's no-campus, all-city independence meets artsy ambition in a car that's too

Campus life

NYU offers an urban, independent lifestyle where New York City itself serves as the campus, with students immersed in Greenwich Village culture and city opportunities. Social life is decentralized with no traditional Greek life or central quad, emphasizing exploration of neighborhoods, cultural events, and professional networking. Students are typically ambitious, creative, and self-directed, taking advantage of internships, arts venues, and the city's endless opportunities.

The film, scored

This profile answers “if New York University were a movie or TV show?” with Gossip Girl (2007). Glamorous, expensive, set against iconic Manhattan backdrops, and full of ambitious young people trying to make it in the city without a safety net. The campus is the city, the city is the campus, and everyone's trying to be someone. It sits in the 59th percentile on rankquant, which re-centres every critic score on the reviewer who gave it, so a percentile means position against peers rather than a raw star average. The full film & TV catalogue ranks the rest the same way.