Admit rate has ranged 57%–69% over the last 5 years — notably volatile. Source: IPEDS via Urban Institute.
Acceptance & SAT from Common Data Set / IPEDS; net price, earnings & graduation from the U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~1–2 years — verify with the school.
The New School is a progressive, arts-forward university in the heart of New York City, where interdisciplinary creativity and critical thinking collide. Known for its avant-garde ethos and strong programs in design (Parsons) and liberal arts (Eugene Lang), it attracts students who thrive in an unconventional, socially engaged academic environment. With a 63% acceptance rate and no standardized testing requirements, it’s accessible yet fiercely intellectual.
Admission requirements
Test-blind — scores not considered
Required
High school transcript
Grade point average
Letters of recommendation
Demonstrated competencies
TOEFL (non-native English)
Considered (not required)
Class rank
College-prep program
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
More details
Undergrad enrollment
6,563
In-state tuition
$58,694
Out-of-state tuition
$58,694
Top Major
Visual & Performing Arts (71% of students)
Total Cost
$90,007
Acceptance Rate
63% (varies by program)
Median Earnings
$44,575
Notable Programs
Parsons School of Design, Urban Policy (ranked #22)
Student-Faculty Ratio
9:1
6-Year Graduation Rate
~91%
Outcomes & value
Outcomes & value
Median earnings (10 yr)
$52,901
Value (earnings ÷ net price)
0.9×
Median debt at graduation
$22,266
Graduation rate
69%
First-year retention
85%
Reducing loan balance (3 yr)
62%
Pell (lower-income) share
53%
First-generation share
19%
Endowment / student
$74,200
Top-earning majors
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
Arts, Entertainment, and Media Management$46,217
Architecture and Related Services, Other$42,682
Design and Applied Arts$35,630
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication$35,060
Communication and Media Studies$34,420
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities
Campus & location
Campus safety
On-campus violent crimes (2024)
5
Per 1,000 students
0.76
On-campus criminal offenses classed as violent (murder/non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault) for the most recent reported year. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education Campus Safety and Security (Clery Act). Counts reflect what’s reported to the school, and urban campuses often report more partly due to non-student incidents nearby — read alongside campus size and setting, not as a standalone safety verdict.
Climate
Pleasant days / yr
90
Summer high
83°F
Winter low
29°F
Annual rain
54.4"
Annual snow
18.3"
Natural-hazard risk
Relatively High
Pleasant days counts days per year with a mean temperature of 55–75°F, a high at or below 90°F, a low at or above 45°F, and little precipitation — a transparent comfort measure, not a weighting we invented. Computed from Open-Meteo ERA5 daily history (2019–2023). Natural-hazard risk is the county’s composite rating from the FEMA National Risk Index.
Deep dive — research, future-scholar output & economic mobility▾
Research output
Institutional h-index
243
Scholarly works
10,629
Institutional research volume and impact from OpenAlex. The h-index reflects large research universities and will be low for teaching-focused liberal-arts colleges — not a measure of undergraduate quality.
Quick answers
What is the acceptance rate at The New School?
The New School's acceptance rate is approximately 63% (New York, NY), based on the most recent figures we compiled from public and primary sources.
How much does The New School cost?
At The New School, the average net price (after aid) is about $58,741 per year. Actual cost varies with financial aid and residency.
How many undergraduates attend The New School?
The New School enrolls approximately 6,563 undergraduate students.
Where is The New School located?
The New School is located in New York, NY.
Admissions
The New School’s admissions process is notably Test-optionalA policy where you choose whether to submit SAT or ACT scores. If you don't, the rest of your application carries more weight., with no requirement for SAT, ACT, or SAT Subject Tests ([8], [12]). Acceptance rateThe share of applicants a college admits in a given year. A 10% acceptance rate means it admits about 1 in 10 applicants. hover around 63%, though figures vary by division—Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts reports an 83% acceptance rate ([5], [7], [9], [12]). The university saw a 9.08% increase in applications recently, with 6,238 admits from 9,828 applications in one cycle ([5]). GPA averages for admitted students sit at 3.41, with middle-50% SAT scores around 1207 and ACT scores at 26 ([12]). Early decision applicants enjoy a significantly higher acceptance rate of 93.7% ([7]).
The New School is a hub for interdisciplinary study, with 71% of students majoring in visual and performing arts—home to the prestigious Parsons School of Design ([15], [16]). Other strengths include urban policy (ranked 22nd nationally) and psychology ([16]). The curriculum emphasizes creative problem-solving and critical thinking, with a 9:1 student-faculty ratio fostering close mentorship ([11], [13], [17]). Undergraduates choose from programs like Communication Design, Environmental Studies, and Global Studies, all infused with a socially conscious, hands-on approach ([14], [18]).
Earnings = median of students working ~10 years after entry; debt = median of graduates. Value divides 10-yr earnings by one year’s net price — read it as earnings per dollar of annual cost, not a full lifetime ROI; it favors lower-cost schools. Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard. Figures lag ~2 years and reflect all students, not your intended major.
$27,947
Film/Video and Photographic Arts$26,739
International/Globalization Studies$25,194
Source: U.S. Dept. of Education College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings). Figures cover graduates who received federal aid and lag ~2 years; not all programs report data.
Campus life pulses with NYC’s energy, blending activism, art, and urban exploration. Student-run Instagram accounts like @newschoolstudentlife showcase events ranging from gallery openings to protests ([23]). Facilities include maker spaces, performance venues, and the Sheila C. Johnson Design Center ([22]). Housing is limited, pushing many to embrace NYC’s neighborhoods, while clubs like the Radical Student Union and Drag Society reflect the school’s progressive bent ([19], [20], [22]). Parsons students describe a culture of 'progressive creativity,' while Lang students highlight intimate seminars and access to archives like the Vera List Center for Art and Politics ([21], [22]).
Graduates report median earnings of ~$44,575, with computer software and media applications majors earning slightly less at $44,088 ([25]). The school’s 6-year graduation rate is ~91%, though third-party comparisons note it lags behind national medians for ROI ([26], [27], [30]). Alumni often enter creative fields, leveraging NYC connections—Parsons grads dominate fashion and design, while Lang alumni pursue writing, activism, and academia ([25], [26]).
Total Cost of attendanceThe full estimated yearly cost of a college: tuition, fees, housing, food, books, and other expenses, before any financial aid. reaches $90,007, with Net priceWhat a family actually pays after grants and scholarships are subtracted from the sticker price — usually far less than the published cost. calculators estimating aid packages that include institutional grants ([32], [36]). The financial aid office emphasizes using their official calculator for personalized estimates, which factor in federal aid and scholarships ([31], [33], [35]). While sticker shock is real, the urban campus means no car expenses, and NYC’s internship ecosystem offsets costs for many ([34], [36]).
The New School is the place for students who want to dismantle traditional academia while building a portfolio or activist resume. Its NYC location provides unmatched access to galleries, nonprofits, and startups, while its history (founded in 1919 as a radical alternative to conventional universities) still shapes its DNA. Unlike arts schools that silo disciplines, it encourages collisions—think fashion designers taking urban policy seminars, or poets collaborating with data visualization students ([13], [16], [18]). If you’re allergic to lecture halls and crave autonomy, this is your tribe.
The New School logo · sourceThe New School University Center / SOM | ArchDaily · sourceThe New School – University Center – SOM · sourceBuildings | The New School · source
