“The Big Apple,” “The City That Never Sleeps.” These are just a few of nicknames that New York City has garnered over the years. NYC is indeed the most famous city in the world, bar none. Because of this, every year, students from all over the world to study at one of its many colleges and universities. With so many colleges and universities to choose from, it may be hard for a 17-year-old to make an informed decision. To help them out, we decided to write a piece that discusses the best colleges and universities in the New York City area.

1. Columbia University – Three prestigious schools make up the university undergraduate program: Columbia College, the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and the School of General Studies. Columbia is ranked in 3rd place nationwide, and the school is a best-value university. Columbia accepts only 6% of applicants each year, and the annual tuition and fees are $59,430. The freshman retention rate here is 99%, which indicates an immense level of satisfaction with the school.
2. New York University – This university, with an enrollment of 51,123 students, is the largest private school in the United States, and it’s ranked 30th in the nation. Students seeking a degree in theatre and film attend the famous Tisch School of the Arts. NYU is a city school that thrives in the heart of Manhattan. Annual tuition and fees cost $51,828.
3. Fordham University – With campuses located throughout New York City, Fordham provides students with an authentic Big Apple experience. Fordham is ranked #70 in the United States. The most popular majors include Speech Communications and Rhetoric and Business Administration and Management. Annual tuition and fees are $52,248.
4. Sarah Lawrence College – The second-oldest private school specializing in engineering, the Polytechnic Institute of New York University has satellite campuses in Shanghai and Abu Dhabi. The school’s main campus in Brooklyn is made up of 52 percent minority students and 99 percent of students receive financial aid – with 97 percent receiving grant aid from school directly. In six years, the graduation rates are 40 percent for black students, 37 percent for Hispanic students and 62 percent for Asian and Pacific Islanders
5. Polytechnic Institute of New York University -Brooklyn: The second-oldest private school specializing in engineering, the Polytechnic Institute of New York University has satellite campuses in Shanghai and Abu Dhabi. The school’s main campus in Brooklyn is made up of 52 percent minority students and 99 percent of students receive financial aid – with 97 percent receiving grant aid from school directly. In six years, the graduation rates are 40 percent for black students, 37 percent for Hispanic students and 62 percent for Asian and Pacific Islanders.
6. Queens College of City University of New York – Want to live near New York City but don’t have the cash to splash on Columbia or any of the city’s other high-priced institutions? Queens Colleges, which is part of the City University of New York system costs a cool $7,138 a semester and offers a whirlwind of undergraduate and graduate programs. It’s located in Flushing, which also means students don’t need to compete with Manhattan rent prices.

Click here to learn more about the ranking methodology that we used to compile this list.

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