New York City is home to some of the most renowned universities in the world, attracting students from all corners of the globe.
Here are some of the top universities in NYC:
Let us now tell you about these best colleges in New York State in detail:
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Columbia University
Columbia is an Ivy League institution located in Upper Manhattan. It is known for its strong programs in the arts, humanities, and sciences. Popular undergraduate degrees include economics, political science, and computer science, while popular graduate programs include business, law, and journalism. Columbia has a diverse student body, with international students making up over 30% of its total enrollment.
University
|
Private
|
Establishment
|
1754
|
Columbia University World Ranking 2025
|
34
|
Popular Programs
|
Masters, PhD
|
Intake
|
Fall, Spring, Summer
|
Annual Program Fees
|
- Masters- USD 63,000 (INR 53L)
- PhD- USD 53,461 (INR 44L)
|
Admission Requirements
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- TOEFL- 99
- IELTS- 7
- GRE- 300
|
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New York University (NYU)
NYU is a private research university with campuses throughout the city. It is known for its strong programs in business, the arts, and social sciences. Popular undergraduate degrees include business, film and television, and psychology, while popular graduate programs include law, education, and social work. NYU has a large international student population, with students from over 150 countries.
University
|
Private
|
Establishment
|
1831
|
New York University World Ranking 2025
|
43
|
Popular Programs
|
Masters, PhD
|
Intake
|
Fall, Spring, Summer
|
Annual Program Fees
|
- Masters- USD 63,000 (INR 53L)
- PhD- USD 20,059 (INR 16L)
|
Admission Requirements
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- TOEFL- 90
- IELTS- 7
- GRE- 300
|
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The City University of New York (CUNY)
CUNY is a public university system that serves over 275,000 students across 25 campuses in NYC. It offers a wide range of undergraduate and graduate programs at an affordable price, including popular programs in education, business, and engineering. CUNY has a large international student population, with students from over 200 countries.
University
|
Public
|
Establishment
|
1847
|
City University of New York World Ranking 2025
|
661-670
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Popular Programs
|
Masters
|
Intake
|
Fall, Spring, Summer
|
Annual Program Fees
|
Masters- USD 15,000 (INR 13L)
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Admission Requirements
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- TOEFL- 79
- IELTS- 6.5
- GRE- 290
|
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Fordham University
Fordham is a private Jesuit research university located in the Bronx. It is known for its strong programs in business, law, and the arts. Popular undergraduate degrees include business, communications, and psychology, while popular graduate programs include law, business, and education. Fordham has a diverse student body, with international students making up over 10% of its total enrollment.
University
|
Private
|
Establishment
|
1841
|
Fordham University World Ranking 2025
|
1001-1200
|
Popular Programs
|
Masters, PhD
|
Intake
|
Fall, Spring
|
Annual Program Fees
|
- Masters- USD 25,000 (INR 21L)
- PhD- USD 40,960 (INR 34L)
|
Admission Requirements
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- TOEFL- 79
- IELTS- 6.5
- GRE- 290
|
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The New School
The New School is a private research university located in Greenwich Village. It is known for its strong programs in the arts, social sciences, and liberal arts. Popular undergraduate degrees include design, media studies, and psychology, while popular graduate programs include design, social research, and public and urban policy. The New School has a diverse student body, with international students making up over 30% of its total enrollment.
University
|
Private
|
Establishment
|
1919
|
New School World Ranking 2025
|
781-790
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Popular Programs
|
MBA
|
Intake
|
Fall
|
Annual Program Fees
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MBA- USD 30,000 (INR 25L)
|
Admission Requirements
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- TOEFL- 99
- IELTS- 7
- GRE- 300
|
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Yeshiva University
Yeshiva is a private research university located in Upper Manhattan. It is known for its strong programs in Jewish studies, as well as programs in the arts, sciences, and business. Popular undergraduate degrees include biology, psychology, and finance, while popular graduate programs include law, education, and social work. Yeshiva has a small but significant international student population, with students from over 20 countries.
University
|
Private
|
Establishment
|
1886
|
Yeshiva University World Ranking 2025
|
413
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Popular Programs
|
Masters
|
Intake
|
Fall, Spring
|
Annual Program Fees
|
Masters- USD 44,570 (INR 37L)
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Admission Requirements
|
|
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Pace University
Pace is a private university with campuses in Lower Manhattan and Westchester County. It is known for its strong programs in business, law, and the arts. Popular undergraduate degrees include business, communications, and nursing, while popular graduate programs include business, law, and education. Pace has a diverse student body, with international students making up over 10% of its total enrollment.
University
|
Private
|
Establishment
|
1870
|
Pace University World Ranking 2025
|
NA
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Popular Programs
|
Masters
|
Intake
|
Fall, Spring, Summer
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Annual Program Fees
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Masters- USD 41,000 (INR 34L)
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Admission Requirements
|
|
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St. John's University
St. John's is a private Catholic university located in Queens. It is known for its strong programs in business, law, and education. Popular undergraduate degrees include business, communications, and criminal justice, while popular graduate programs include law, education, and accounting. St. John's has a diverse student body, with international students making up over 5% of its total enrollment.
University
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Private
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Establishment
|
1870
|
QS Ranking 2025
|
NA
|
Popular Programs
|
Masters, PhD
|
Intake
|
Fall, Spring
|
Annual Program Fees
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- Masters- USD 34,000 (INR 28L)
- PhD- USD 47,830 (INR 39L)
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Admission Requirements
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|
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Pratt Institute
Pratt is a private art and design university located in Brooklyn. It is known for its strong programs in architecture, art, and design. Popular undergraduate degrees include architecture, graphic design, and fine arts, while popular graduate programs include architecture, interior design, and industrial design. Pratt has a diverse student body, with international students making up over 25% of its total enrollment.
University
|
Private
|
Establishment
|
1887
|
QS Ranking 2025
|
NA
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Popular Programs
|
Masters
|
Intake
|
Fall
|
Annual Program Fees
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Masters- USD 30,000 (INR 25L)
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Admission Requirements
|
|
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Barnard College
Barnard College is a private women's liberal arts college located in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of Upper Manhattan, New York City.
Barnard offers undergraduate programs in a variety of liberal arts fields, including social sciences, humanities, and natural sciences. It is known for its strong programs in women's studies, English, psychology, and economics. The college has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9:1 and an average class size of 14, allowing for personalized attention and a close-knit community.
University
|
Private
|
Establishment
|
1889
|
QS Ranking 2025
|
NA
|
Popular Programs
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Bachelors
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Intake
|
Fall
|
Annual Program Fees
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Bachelors- USD 64,000 (INR 54L)
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Admission Requirements
|
|
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Cornell University
Cornell University is a private Ivy League Research University in Ithaca, New York. Cornell offers elite Engineering, Business, Computer Science, Economics, Political Science etc. Cornell enrolls approximately a total of 26,000 students. Cornell University is highly competitive with an acceptance rate of 7%.
University
|
Private
|
Establishment
|
1865
|
Cornell University World Ranking 2025
|
16
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Popular Programs
|
Masters, PhD
|
Intake
|
Fall, Spring
|
Annual Program Fees
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- Masters- USD 43,000 (INR 37L)
- PhD- USD 29,500 (INR 24L)
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Admission Requirements
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- TOEFL- 100
- IELTS- 7
- GRE- 300
|
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University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private non-sectarian institution. It is one of the USA’s 60 leading research institutions and one of the top universities globally for entrepreneurs. The University of Rochester has an acceptance rate of 39%. Rochester houses over 3,600 international students. There are more than 12,000 students including 6,780 undergraduate and 5,030 full-time graduate students here.
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Stony Brook University
Stony Brook University was founded in 1957 in Brookhaven, USA. Stony Brook's acceptance rate is 48%, making it a selective university in terms of admissions. Stony Brook University has become one of the country's most renowned centers of learning. This university is also a public sea-grant and space-grant Research University.
University
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Public
|
Establishment
|
1957
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Stony Brook University World Ranking 2025
|
460
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Popular Programs
|
Masters
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Intake
|
Fall, Spring, Summer
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Annual Program Fees
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Masters- USD 23,000 (INR 19L)
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Admission Requirements
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University at Buffalo
Established in 1846, University at Buffalo is the largest university under the umbrella of the State University of New York. It is a public university that stresses on research, academic, amd creative activity. It is a part of the renowned Association of American Universities.
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Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university in Syracuse, New York, and was set up in 1870. With a rate of acceptance of 59%, the university is moderately competitive. Syracuse University offers more than 200+ majors, 100+ minors via its 13 academic schools.
University
|
Private
|
Establishment
|
1870
|
Syracuse University World Ranking 2025
|
801-850
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Popular Programs
|
Masters, PhD
|
Intake
|
Fall, Spring, Summer
|
Annual Program Fees
|
- Masters- USD 33,000 (INR 27L)
- PhD- USD 59,703 (INR 49L)
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Admission Requirements
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- TOEFL- 80
- IELTS- 7
- GRE- 305
|
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University at Albany
Founded in 1844, the University at Albany is an open research university. Later, it became the first university in New York City to offer a bachelor's degree. In 1913, the university began offering master's degrees. Some of the prestigious research centers there are the Centre for Applied Historical Research, Biological Imaging Centre, Centre for Economic Research, Centre for Jewish Languages, Centre for Astronomical Observatory, Centre for X-Ray Optics, and the Centre for Neuroscience Research.
University
|
Public
|
Establishment
|
1844
|
State University of New York (Albany) World Ranking 2025
|
851-900
|
Popular Programs
|
Masters, PhD
|
Intake
|
Fall, Spring
|
Annual Program Fees
|
- Masters- USD 22,000 (INR 19L)
- PhD- USD 12,485 (INR 10L)
|
Admission Requirements
|
- TOEFL- 79
- IELTS- 6.5
- GRE- 300
|
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Clarkson University
Established in 1896, Clarkson University is a private research university in Potsdam, New York. Currently, Clarkson University enrolls 4,000+ students from all over the world. Clarkson has elite programs in engineering, management, business, and multiple health sciences programs.
University
|
Private
|
Establishment
|
1896
|
Clarkson University World Ranking 2025
|
851-900
|
Popular Programs
|
Masters, PhD
|
Intake
|
Fall
|
Annual Program Fees
|
- Masters- USD 29,000 (INR 23L)
- PhD- USD 58,058 (INR 48L)
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Admission Requirements
|
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Binghamton University
Binghamton University was initially established as Triple Cities College in 1946 to cater to the World War II veterans. It offers programs in Computer Sciences, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. The university has welcomed numerous international students from over 100 countries in the world. It has an acceptance rate of around 43%.
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Hofstra University
Founded in 1935, Hofstra University is a private university in Long Island, NY which offers small classes, reputed faculty and a vibrant campus. It offers prestigious programs at its Law School and Business School. Hofstra University has currently enrolled over 900 international students from 86 nations around the world.
University
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Private
|
Establishment
|
1935
|
QS Ranking 2025
|
NA
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Popular Programs
|
Masters
|
Intake
|
Fall
|
Annual Program Fees
|
Masters- USD 45,000 (INR 38L)
|
Admission Requirements
|
|
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Rochester Institute of Technology
Established in 1829, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) is a private research university in Rochester, USA. It offers a variety of reputed academic opportunities, including a leading research opportunity. Its schools have partnerships with several campuses in China, Croatia, Dubai, and Kosovo.