New York University vs University of Southern California

New York University and University of Southern California are both well-regarded institutions, but they differ in important ways. Here's how they compare across key dimensions.

Admissions: New York University is more selective with a 9.4% acceptance rate compared to University of Southern California's 10.0%. Average SAT scores are 1527 and 1501 respectively.

Cost: University of Southern California offers a lower average net price at $31,927, which is $3,108 less than New York University ($35,035). After financial aid, this can make a significant difference over 4 years.

Career Outcomes: Graduates from University of Southern California earn a median salary of $92,498 ten years after enrollment, which is $9,989 more than New York University graduates ($82,509).

Graduation: University of Southern California leads with a 92.2% graduation rate, and freshman retention rates are 95.5% vs 96.5%.

Campus Size: New York University is the larger campus with 29,430 total students, while University of Southern California has 20,817.

Bottom Line: University of Southern California stands out as both more affordable and producing higher-earning graduates — making it the stronger value proposition overall.