NYU is literally my DREAM school and I would absolutely LOVE to go there. My credentials fit their requirements (and exceed) and, honestly, I think I have a good chance of getting in. BUT aid! I heard NYU is not amazing when it comes to scholarships and financial aid and what not and I was just wondering if there’s a chance for me to get in with a full ride (as that will be the only way I can go there, sadly). My family EFC is 0, if that helps at all?
Full rides anywhere are rare, virtually impossible at NYU.
I know people with full rides, but it’s incredibly rare.
If you can get the application fee waived, apply anyway, especially if it’s your dream–but come to terms with the fact that getting a full ride, or anywhere near it, is incredibly unlikely.
Also, all the people I know with full rides are either a part of NYU’s programs for NYC residents or were offered admission to the CAS Honors Scholars program upon admission to the university, meaning they were in the top 10% of the applicant pool and entering class.
To wonderlandd: Do you know of anyone who has received a significant amount of solely merit-based aid, or are the ones you mention a combination of need and merit?
My daughter knows of two people that received full tuition at NYU but they had to pay for their room and board which varies in cost. My daughter received a great scholarship from College of Arts and Sciences, where it made if affordable for her to attend and it was cost was comparable to our in-state schools that she had considered.
The son of a guy I used to work with is a current student on a full merit ride. Both parents earn a strong income, so I’d be shocked if any of the ride is FA. Son had perfect scores and grades. Number 1 in a class of 500. No hooks. I can’t remember but I don’t think he had any national awards.
Do you know what school they went in? CAS or Tandon or whatnot? Maybe that matters?
I’m not sure which school. Sorry.
Have you done the net price calculator yet? https://www.nyu.edu/financial.aid/misc/npc/
OldCheerMomatDC – were these merit based awards from CAS or were they need-based?
I personally received a good amount of aid based purely on merit from CAS. I’ve never heard of someone receiving a fully merit-based full ride, honestly. From what I’ve heard and my own experiences, NYU doesn’t offer any ONLY merit or ONLY need scholarships, it’s all a combination.
Would you be a NYS resident who’d qualify for HEOP?
Even HEOP students are supposed to commute though as they receive full tuition, not a full ride.
Have you run the NPC?
I’ve known students whose family made $24,000 who were expected to pay $18,000 a year for NYU!
If your EFC is zero, have “top NYU” stats*, and love NYC, you’re better off applying to Barnard (if you’re female) or Columbia (if you’re male). 
- 3.8 GPA/1450+ SAT or 32+ ACT
@lancelot15 I’m pretty sure it said based on academic merit, because I know we didn’t qualify for any need base aid.
I think you need to be clear on your terminology. “Full tuition” is not the same as “full ride”. “Full tuition” means that the student pays -0- tuition but is responsible for room & board costs and other incidentals. “Full ride” means that the college is paying everything, so Cost of Attendance = 0. At some schools, a full-ride scholarship might also include research grants or stipends.
NYU does offer full tuition scholarships to top applicants – so feasible for an applicant with extremely strong stats. AFAIK, NYU doesn’t ever offer more than that. Maybe I’m mistaken, but random people posting online about someone they knew isn’t a way to refute that.
Housing cost at NYU (and anywhere in NYC) are very high, and city lifestyle is also expensive. Plus in addition to “tuition” NYU charges a variety of different types of student fees, and I don’t know if any are covered in their full scholarships. For the OP, with an EFC of -0-, those expenses could be a big deal.
Yes! You’re right! I meant full tuition not FULL RIDE!!! Thank you so much for clearing that up!!
OK – then if your stats are very, very high – you might get a full tuition merit scholarship. With a -0- EFC you would be eligible for a Pell Grant & subsidized federal direct loan, plus you might get work study – so maybe you could pull it off – but it will be tight.
Here’s the deal, however; if your stats are good enough to get a full tuition scholarship at NYU, then they would be good enough to get you into highly competitive colleges that meet full need of all students – maybe even an Ivy – and with your -0- EFC, then full-need means that college would be very affordable – plus many of those schools are generally perceived to be stronger academically than NYU.
And your stats would also be good enough to get you a true full ride at many other colleges that are not as selective as NYU.
So drop the idea of a DREAM school and start looking for a dream future for yourself – one where you won’t be tied down by debt and one that will be a better foundation for the whole rest of your life. NYU is a bad choice for a 0 EFC student because they don’t meet full need (full-need schools will pay for most of your housing costs too).
And your DREAM is exactly that – it is fantasy which has very little bearing on what your life would be if you actually attended NYU. So get real and widen your horizons. Go ahead and apply to NYU (RD) if you want, because there’s no harm in applying … but focus your attention on trying to get into schools that you know will be affordable. So some safeties where you are assured of merit money as well colleges that promise to meet full need of all students. Because now is the time to make real-world, practical and pragmatic decisions that you can live with.
Thank you
I totally agree with the advice you’ve been given about trying hard for a school that meets full need. NYU is looking for applicants that are ivy caliber for their full tuition scholarships like the MLK award. While the MLK will cover full tuition, there is no guarantee that they will meet the rest of your need for housing. I would not rule it out–and it is worth it to apply–but it is not a guarantee like it would be at schools that meet full need.
Obviously there are programs that are at NYU that may not be offered at other schools–so if you want to study film or theatre, or business, you may prefer the programs at NYU.
Now for those without need, NYU does give you chance to be awarded the MLK scholarship or merit only awards in talent areas like music and art that other schools won’t provide.
@uskoolfish If you have significant financial need and are “Ivy league caliber”, I suggest you apply to Columbia (or Barnard if you are female). The difference in the financial aid packages we received was staggering. NYU was heavy on loans, including parental loans. Columbia had ZERO loans and met our full need.
@exlibrus97 Yes, I totally agree. That was the advice I gave above. NYU is looking for ivy caliber for their top scholarships—but there is no guarantee that they meet full need. If I had full need and highly grades, I’d put my efforts into getting into an ivy or near ivy school that meets full need.
It also depends on majors. Columbia excels in many areas, but does not offer a business degree or the same level of creative options in film, theatre, art and music that NYU does.
However for someone without financial need, NYU can be the cheaper option. D was accepted to both NYU and Barnard. She was offered no financial aid, but got an $11K a year talent scholarship from NYU.