Hi! I’m an international student applying ED2 to NYU, and I’m really curious about the NPC system at NYU. When I entered my financial profile on NYU plus checking that I will live in the dorm, it says that the total estimated aid is only $15000. However, when I check that I will live by my self(=commute), the total estimated aid is $30000, though having the same housing cost and total cost when living in dorms. If I get only $15000, I’ll have to withdraw my application… It’s serious. Even though my parents earn $150k in total, they are not going to pay more than $30k for my tuition, because I have a younger sister who is also going to college in two years. If it is true that students who commute get more financial aid, I am willing to commute from nearby areas like Brooklyn. I need to receive at least $30000.
I may be a bit negative here, but in my experience the NYU NPC is terrible, and not at all to be trusted. You may have noticed that it doesn’t ask about assets at all, and it gives the same answer for families with incomes of $105K, or $150K (like yours), or $300K.
That said, it is not impossible that an international student with a family of four and an income of $150K could get $30K in aid. (Which would leave about $22K in tuition and fees, plus all other room, board, and other costs.) I would just say that the NPC should not be taken as much proof that it is likely. And I doubt it is really true that off-campus people get an additional $15K in scholarships on average. From what I’ve heard, NYU financial aid packages are highly variable and generally not as good as you’d hope.
You might want to reconsider your ED2 application options, and look into schools with more reliable financial aid–and more detailed NPCs that will give a better idea of what your family might need to pay.
Let’s say you get 30,000 in aid. How the heck are you paying to live in Brooklyn and commute to NYU?
This is not a plan, this is wishful thinking.
To show how questionable the NYU NPC is, here are some results for a family of four, with one in college:
Living on own or with roommate:
70-79K income gets 31K aid on average
80-89K income gets 20K aid on average
90-99K income gets 52K aid on average
100-infinityK income gets 30K aid on average
This can’t be right.
If you run it with living on campus or living at home, you find that 70-79K, 80-89K, and 90-99K all get about 25K for living at home and about 34K for living on campus. You’d think a difference of 20K more income would change the average aid amount. Not on this NPC!
So, as mentioned, you really shouldn’t trust the figures it gives.
I wouldn;t trust NYUto give much, at all. Notorious for giving the best aid in some random way. Generally, CC thinks it’s those kids they want the very most. And that’s tough to count on.
What about other colleges with good aid in the NYC area? Do you know how expensve it is to live there? Even to ride the subway. If aid is important, you need to broaden your list.
Do not apply ED-anything to NYU. Apply RD. NYU does not promise to meet need for any of its students, and is generally stingy with aid. You need to assume that you will not get the aid you want or hope for.
That being said, if your stats are very high, you might get aid. Essentially, all aid from NYU is merit-based with a need component. So whether or not you get aid, and how generous it is, depend on NYU’s assessment of merit – and that is also going to vary depending on what schools within NYU you are applying to.
But there is absolutely no value in applying ED. If your stats are good enough to qualify for a large scholarship, then you would be almost certain to qualify for admission RD; and if your stats aren’t going to win you the aid you seek, then you won’t get enough aid to make it work during ED even if you are admitted. So you are much better off if you can compare awards among different schools.
- the net price calculator will not be accurate for you as an international student.
Even if your parents say they only want to pay 30k, with an income of $150k, yor EFC is going to be way more than 30k, making NYU unafforable based on the financial parameters that your parents have set
NYU states