Private
Columbia University
New York, New York
- Acceptance
- 3.9%
- In-state tuition
- $68,400
- Undergrads
- 8,900
A Manhattan Ivy with a mandatory Core Curriculum and a binding Early Decision round in November.
Universities in New York
3 campuses profiled, with admission requirements, published costs, test policies and deadlines. Reviewed 2026-09-20.
Private
Cornell University
Ithaca, New York
- Acceptance
- 7.3%
- In-state tuition
- $45,000
- Undergrads
- 16,000
An Ivy that mixes private and state-supported colleges, so New York residents pay reduced tuition in four contract colleges.
Private
New York University
New York, New York
- Acceptance
- 9%
- In-state tuition
- $62,796
- Undergrads
- 29,000
A campus-free university spread across Greenwich Village, with degree-granting sites in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai.
Studying in New York
This page lists the 3 universities in New York currently profiled in the directory: 0 public and 3 private nonprofit. Each profile carries the same fields — acceptance rate, published tuition for residents and non-residents, standardized test policy, deadlines and accreditation — so the campuses can be compared directly.
The lowest published in-state tuition in this group is at Cornell University, at about $45,000 per year before housing and fees.
The most selective is Columbia University, reporting an acceptance rate near 3.9%.
The largest undergraduate population belongs to New York University with roughly 29,000 undergraduates.
If you are a resident of New York, the public campuses above are almost always the lowest-cost route to a bachelor's degree, and the state's community colleges add a cheaper first two years through transfer agreements. If you are applying from outside the state, compare the non-resident rate against private universities after aid before assuming the public option is cheaper — it frequently is not.
Related reading: in-state vs out-of-state tuition, financial aid and the FAFSA, and the community college transfer pathway.
Frequently asked questions
How many universities does this directory list in New York?
3 institutions in New York are profiled here: 0 public and 3 private nonprofit. The state has more institutions than this; the directory covers the campuses students most often compare.
What is the cheapest university in New York in this directory?
Cornell University has the lowest published in-state tuition in this list at about $45,000 per year, before housing, food and fees. Aid can lower the net price further.
Do I pay in-state tuition if I move to New York for university?
Usually not. New York, like almost every state, excludes time spent in the state primarily for education from the residency clock, so students who move to study normally remain non-residents for the whole degree.
Which university in New York is hardest to get into?
Among the campuses profiled here, Columbia University reports the lowest acceptance rate at about 3.9%. Selectivity also varies sharply by major within any single university.