
New York, NYprivate nonprofitwww.yu.edu/
Admit rate has ranged 55%–67% 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.
Yeshiva University is a singular institution: a top-tier private research university in New York City that is also the world's premier Jewish university. Its character is defined by a demanding dual curriculum of rigorous secular academics and deep Torah study, creating a tight-knit, intellectually charged community for students who are serious about both their faith and their future. This isn't just a college with a Hillel; it's a place where Jewish life is the central, organizing principle of the entire educational and social experience.
Test-optional — scores considered if submitted
Source: IPEDS Admissions survey (2022) via Urban Institute. Covers formal factors only — it does not reflect essays, extracurriculars, or other holistic criteria.
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Outcomes & value
Median earnings by field of study (highest credential), ~2 years after completion.
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.
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Campus & location
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.
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.
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.
Mobility rate = the share of students who both start in the bottom household-income quintile and reach the top quintile; bottom → top is that chance conditional on starting at the bottom. Source: Opportunity Insights Mobility Report Cards (Chetty, Friedman, Saez, Turner & Yagan). Reflects 1980–82 birth cohorts, so it’s directional, not current.
Yeshiva University's admissions process is moderately selective, with a focus on academic rigor and preparation. The university considers an applicant's secondary school record, specifically the rigor of their coursework, as "very important," alongside standardized test scores. While the has shown some historical fluctuation, the most recent published figures cluster around the mid-50s to low-60s percent. Admitted students typically present strong academic credentials, with a middle 50% SAT range of 1340–1510. The university's rate—the percentage of admitted students who choose to enroll—has been reported as high as 63.7%, indicating a strong appeal to those who are admitted. The admissions office utilizes the to standardize and communicate its policies and statistics. Notably, the process appears to weigh traditional academic factors heavily, with no indication from the provided sources that demonstrated interest is a formal component of evaluation.
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.
Academics at Yeshiva University are characterized by intimate class sizes, a low student-to-faculty ratio of 6.9:1, and a broad range of programs across 65 majors. The university promotes an environment of engaged faculty and academic excellence. Popular undergraduate majors include Psychology, Finance, Biology/Biological Sciences, Accounting, and Marketing. The curriculum is notably demanding due to its dual nature, combining a full schedule of secular studies with a parallel, intensive program in Jewish texts and thought (the "beit midrash" experience). This unique structure means students are effectively managing two rigorous academic tracks simultaneously, a challenge acknowledged by the student body. The graduation rate is strong, reported between 80% and 84%, with an on-time (four-year) graduation rate of 84%. The average time to degree is 4.1 years.
Life at Yeshiva University is intensely communal and revolves around its Jewish identity. The Office of Student Life is dedicated to creating a positive undergraduate experience, fostering a campus environment where students engage in a rich array of activities. This includes guest lectures, student-run councils, clubs, and sports teams for both men and women. Campus amenities support an observant lifestyle, with Kosher dining and fitness centers on every campus. Students describe the culture as one of deep community, which is particularly supportive for those growing in their religious observance. However, this vibrant social life exists within the context of significant challenges: a demanding dual academic schedule, a limited campus footprint in New York City, and the inherent intensity of a close-knit, religiously homogeneous environment. Despite these pressures, a overwhelming majority of students (90%) report feeling extremely safe and secure on campus.
Yeshiva University graduates achieve strong outcomes, with a high graduation rate leading to solid early-career earnings. The overall graduation rate is reported at 83-84%. For the Class of 2018, a post-graduation survey found that 57% of graduates who reported starting salaries were earning $50,000 or more. More recent data indicates median earnings for recent graduates at $63,441, with 75% of graduates earning more than a typical high school graduate. The university's outcomes reflect the value of its rigorous, dual-focused education in the marketplace, particularly in fields like business, finance, and the sciences where many of its popular majors are concentrated.
Yeshiva University is a high-cost private institution, but it maintains a robust financial assistance program to improve affordability. The university's aid packages can include scholarships, grants, loans, and work-study. Families are encouraged to use the official Calculator to get a preliminary estimate of federal, state, and institutional aid eligibility. Need-based grants are a significant component of aid and can substantially reduce the net price. The university also offers payment plans, allowing families to schedule the cost of tuition and fees (minus financial aid) over time with no interest or finance charge, though a nominal enrollment fee applies. The provided sources do not indicate that Yeshiva University has a "no-loan" policy or a commitment to meet 100% of demonstrated financial need without loans; its financial aid program is described as incorporating loans as one of several sources of assistance.
Yeshiva University stands alone in American higher education as the definitive synthesis of top-tier secular academia and profound Jewish learning. It is not merely a university with a strong Jewish studies department or an active Hillel; it is an institution where Jewish texts, law, philosophy, and observance form the bedrock of daily life and intellectual inquiry for the entire community. This creates a uniquely intense and immersive environment. The dual curriculum is both its greatest challenge and its defining strength, producing graduates who are not only prepared for professional success—evidenced by strong graduation rates and earnings—but who are also deeply literate in their religious tradition. The low student-to-faculty ratio and intimate class sizes foster close mentorship, while its New York City location provides unparalleled professional and cultural opportunities, all within the framework of a supportive, observant community. For a student seeking to fully integrate a serious commitment to Jewish life with a rigorous liberal arts and sciences education, YU is not just an option; it is the archetype.