Fordham University is a private Jesuit research university located in New York City, New York, with campuses in the Bronx and Manhattan. Fordham is a mid-sized institution with around 10,098 undergraduate students (around 17,000 total students). Admissions are moderately selective, with an acceptance rate of around 56%. Popular majors at Fordham include Business, Social Sciences, Communication, Psychology, and Economics. The graduation rate is 83% after six years, and Fordham graduates have a median starting salary of around INR 57,01,000 (converted from $68,600 median earnings after ten years of graduation).
New York University, also known as NYU, is a private research university in New York City, New York, situated mainly in Manhattan's Greenwich Village, with global campuses all over the world. It is a large university with around 29,401 undergraduate students and over 58,000 total students. Admission is very competitive, with around 7.7% acceptance in the Class of 2029. Business, Social Sciences, Visual and Performing Arts, Liberal Arts and Humanities, and Computer Science are popular courses. The graduation rate within six years is 87%, and NYU alumni receive a median starting salary of around INR 64,85,000 (equivalenced from $78,100 median income ten years after graduation).
| Fordham University | New York University | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 4.1 Out of 10 | 6.9 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 1001 QS World University 2026 # 1001 QS World University 2025 # 1117 Center for World University Rankings 2025 | # 31 Times Higher Education 2026 # 55 QS World University 2026 # 25 Center for World University Rankings 2025 |
| Subject Strength | # 38 for Law by US News 2025 | # 99 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025 # 13 for Data Science and Analytics by QS World University 2025 # 35 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 |
| Programs | UG Programs -46 PG Programs -22 | UG Programs -40 PG Programs -79 Doctorate Programs -1 |
| Acceptance Rate | 56.0 % | 9.0 % |
| Exam Score | Duolingo-125 IELTS-6 PTE-65 SAT-1230 TOEFL-90 | GMAT-700 GRE-300 IELTS-7.5 PTE-70 SAT-1350 TOEFL-100 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 54730 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 46380 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 43000 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 56500 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 76331 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 14969 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | Some of the programs and the average salary are as follows: MBA: $135,000 Masters in Finance: $132,000 LLM: $128,000 Doctorate: $115,000 Masters in Science: $100,000 Master (Other): $93,000 | New York University (NYU) is one of the top private universities in New York City, United States. It is ranked #39 in QS World University Rankings 2023 and #16 by Graduate Employability Ranking. Average Salaries by degree are:
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| application requirements | Submit official transcripts Submit LORs Submit English language proficiency test scores Check program specific requirements | Resume, Portfolio, Essay, 2 LORs, Portfolio (for some programs) |
| Campuses and B-Schools | NA | Stern School of Business |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 8.1/10 Read 3 reviews | 8.0/10 Read 23 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 141 for Business by QS World University 2026 # 58 for Business by US News 2025 | # 6 for Business by US News 2025 # 17 for Business by QS World University 2025 # 17 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 |
| exam scores | Duolingo - 120/160IELTS - 7/9PTE - 68/90TOEFL - 100/120 | Duolingo - 135/160IELTS - 7/9TOEFL - 100/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -64553 | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -123908 |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| application dates | Oct 10, 2025 (Round 1 Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) Jan 16, 2026 (Round 2 Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) Mar 20, 2026 (Round 3 Application Deadline For Fall 2026 Intake) | Sep 15, 2025 (Round 1 Application Deadline For Fall 2026) Oct 15, 2025 (Round 2 Application Deadline Fall 2026 Intake) Dec 1, 2025 (Initial Notification of Round 1) Jan 1, 2026 (Initial Notification of Round 2) Jan 15, 2026 (Round 3 Application Deadline Fall 2026 Intake) Apr 1, 2026 (Initial Notification of Round 3) Apr 15, 2026 (Round 4 Application Deadline for Fall 2026 Intkae) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | Fordham University | New York University |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1841 | 1831 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 14:1 | 8:1 |
| Male:Female | 42% Male, 58% Female | 44% Male, 56% Female |
| Location Facts | Fordham has three main campuses, which are in and around New York City: Rose Hill in the Fordham neighborhood, the Bronx, adjacent to Bronx Park on Fordham Road; Lincoln Center in Manhattan, one block from Central Park; and Westchester in West Harrison, New York. | Located in two cities within New York: Manhattan and Brooklyn; Manhattan has most of the key academic and student life buildings surrounding the Washington Square Park; Brooklyn has Tandon School and few residence halls. |
| Library | The Fordham University Libraries are at three major locations: the Rose Hill campus in the Bronx; the Lincoln Center campus in Manhattan; and the Westchester Campus Library in Harrison. Fordham University Libraries own more than 2,000,000 volumes and subscribe to over 15,500 periodicals and 50,000 electronic journals and is a depository for United States Government documents. Fordham University Libraries own many special collections of rare books and manuscripts covering a variety of subjects including Americana, Jesuitica, the French Revolution, and Criminology. The library also provides access to over 60,000 electronic books. | NYU has 8 libraries with 4.6 million volume system. Elmer Holmes Bobst is the main library and has over a million volumes, 272,000 serial titles and 43,000 feet of archives. It can accomodate over 2,500 students for studying and computing. |
| Campus Life | At Fordham University the students get facilities that range from Career Services to Student Involvement, the Ram Van to Residential Life. The staff and students that make up all the offices are constantly at work nurturing a student's growth. Clubs and organizations for undergraduate and graduate students number over 130 at the Rose Hill campus and 50 at Lincoln Center. The purpose of Campus Ministry at Fordham is to provide "opportunities and resources for spiritual growth to members of [the university] community." It offers programming for more than 15 faith traditions in such areas as worship, music ministry, and social ministry. Commuter Student Services offers a variety of services for both traditional live-at-home commuters and off-campus commuters. Every commuter is assigned a Commuter Assistant that serves as a resource for anything related to Fordham. Several sporting facilities and intramural sport facilities are provided for the students. | Center for student life manages over 300 clubs and organizations; Apart from all-university clubs, each school within NYU has its own club. |
| Hostel | #Housing & Food - $15300 #Housing & Food - $24090 #Housing & Food (commuter) - $3610 | #Double Room--Semester Rate - $6581 #Single Room--Semester Rate - $8388 |
| Famous Alumni | David Copperfield (magician) Denzel Washington (actor) Alan Alda (Actor, director) Faith Evans (singer, songwriter) Lana Del Rey (singer, songwriter) | 37 Nobel laureates, 3 astronauts, 26 Pulitzer Prize winners, 37 Academy Award winners, 30 Emmy Award winners, 12 Grammy Award winners; Jack Dorsey (founder of Twitter); Robert Muller III (former Director of FBI); Martin Scorsese (filmmaker), Tom Freston (founder of MTV); Paolo Nespoli (astronaut) |
| City Life | New York, is the most populous city in the United States. New York City is the most densely populated major city in the United States. New York City is home to 65 Fortune 500 companies, the second-highest concentration of Fortune 500 companies in the world, outside of Tokyo. Securing a job and keeping it will require more effort than it does in smaller cities, which is why New Yorkers are often considered workaholics | In 2022, New York contributed 12% to the USA GDP; Paygrade increased by 2.8%; Financial activities comprised of 29% of the state’s total GDP; Unemployment rate was 6% in Feburary 2023; Food and apparel are the largest manufacturing sectors of the city; Major tourist attractions are Central Park, Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, Times Square, etc. |
| Weather |
Fordham University vs New York University
Subject Global Rankings & Strength (2025/2026)
NYU is much stronger than Fordham globally. In the QS World University Rankings 2026, NYU ranks 55th and Fordham ranked in the 1001-1200 band. In Times Higher Education 2025, NYU ranks #33, and Fordham is ranked 401–500. NYU performs exceptionally well in Arts & Humanities (6th in QS 2025), Business (10th in US News 2025), and Social Sciences, with top 20 global rankings in more than one field. Fordham performs well in Business, Law (35th in US News 2025), and Social Sciences, with regional recognition in the Northeast.
General Information
NYU is much larger, with a total enrollment of more than 58,000 versus Fordham's 17,000. NYU provides over 270 undergraduate and graduate programs in 18 schools, with an emphasis on global and interdisciplinary education. Fordham offers 60 undergraduate and 70 graduate programs in 10 schools, with an emphasis on Jesuit liberal arts and professional education. NYU's Greenwich Village campus is iconic and urban, while the Fordham Rose Hill (Bronx) and Lincoln Center (Manhattan) campuses combine suburban and urban settings.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
NYU admissions are much more competitive, with a 7.7% acceptance rate versus Fordham's 59%. NYU's SAT range is 1470–1570, and ACT is 33–35, whereas Fordham is 1340–1470 and 30–33. Both institutions are test-optional, with NYU accepting students who usually have a GPA of 3.7–3.8 and Fordham accepting students with an average GPA of approximately 3.69. NYU has a larger applicant pool with over 120,000 applicants to Fordham's 44,000, with a reduced yield rate. NYU is looking for diverse, international talent, while Fordham focuses on Jesuit values and community service.
Research Impact & Facilities
Both are research institutions, but NYU's R1 classification and greater size establish it with a more robust research profile. NYU boasts a 13-million-volume library system and research facilities in Arts, Business, and Data Science, with over 1.6 million citations. Fordham, with very high research activity, specializes in Business, Law, and Social Sciences, aided by a 1.2-million-volume library system and approximately 456,000 citations. NYU's international research networks and city-based resources surpass Fordham's more regional, Jesuit-oriented research enterprise.
Cost & Financial Aid
Fordham's undergraduate rate is $61,992, with room and board at $23,075. NYU's cost is $62,796, with room and board at $22,996. Fordham awards aid to 83% of students for an average of $37,246, while NYU awards aid to 45% of students for an average of $47,096. NYU's larger figure negates its slightly higher price, but Fordham's lower volume permits more individualized dispensation of aid. Both aid international students on the basis of need and merit.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
NYU graduates have higher median ten-year post-graduation salaries ($78,100 compared to Fordham's $68,600) and a greater graduation rate (87% compared to 83%). NYU alumni perform highly in Business, Arts, and Technology, with a global alumni network of more than 500,000, taking advantage of New York City industries. Fordham alumni are successful in Business, Law, and Social Sciences, with a robust Northeast alumni network and Jesuit focus on service. NYU's city ties propel excellence in arts and technology professions, with Fordham's local emphasis powering professional and community-based careers.
