26 Best Private Universities in New York City for International Students
There are a lot of great countries and cities that need to be visited and discovered in your lifetime, and one of the main locations that need to be visited for your studies is New York City, which is one of the cities in United States. When visiting New York City, New York, in addition to developing your skills and academic knowledge, you will become part of a new system and society that will open and enrich your cultural horizons.
Private institutions are a great way to reach your academic goals and get that well-deserved degree. To help you out, check out the list below if you’re looking to study in a private university in New York City, New York. Each university page provides you with specific details on tuition, admission, language requirements, available courses, and more. So, make sure to check the university pages! Let’s dig in!
| Rank | University | Location |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbia University | New York City, United States |
| 2 | New York University | New York City, United States |
| 3 | Rockefeller University | New York City, United States |
| 4 | Yeshiva University | New York City, United States |
| 5 | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai | New York City, United States |
| 6 | Fordham University | New York City, United States |
| 7 | Pace University | New York City, United States |
| 8 | The New School | New York City, United States |
| 9 | St. John’s University | New York City, United States |
| 10 | Barnard College | New York City, United States |
| 11 | Touro University | New York City, United States |
| 12 | School of Visual Arts | New York City, United States |
| 13 | New York Law School | New York City, United States |
| 14 | Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art | New York City, United States |
| 15 | Manhattan College | New York City, United States |
| 16 | Brooklyn Law School | New York City, United States |
| 17 | The Juilliard School | New York City, United States |
| 18 | Bank Street College of Education | New York City, United States |
| 19 | Berkeley College | New York City, United States |
| 20 | St. Francis College | New York City, United States |
| 21 | The King’s College | New York City, United States |
| 22 | Marymount Manhattan College | New York City, United States |
| 23 | Manhattan School of Music | New York City, United States |
| 24 | Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology | New York City, United States |
| 25 | College of Mount Saint Vincent | New York City, United States |
| 26 | Metropolitan College of New York | New York City, United States |
Private Universities in New York City
1. Columbia University
Columbia University is one of the world’s top-ranking institutions. It comprises several schools and colleges, each with specialty programs that offer prestigious training and education. Such excellence may be due, in part, to its extensive history that dates back to 1754, which establishes it as one of the USA’s oldest academic institutions. Besides its Morningside Heights, where most programs are held, the university also has locations known as the Irving Medical Center, Manhattanville Campus, Baker Athletics Complex, and Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.
2. New York University
Established in 1831, New York University (NYU) is one of the most influential institutions in the world. NYU ticks all the boxes when it comes to academic excellence. This prestigious university welcomes elite students from across the globe, training and educating them to become world-class leaders and experts. In addition, it is one of the select universities that has admitted a multitude of international students.
3. Rockefeller University
Rockefeller University is best for students passionate about biological and medical sciences. It has a very high research activity and constantly advocates for innovation. The university is complete with advanced equipment and tools to solve the complexities of society. Rockefeller University is a graduate-only university.
4. Yeshiva University
Yeshiva University is a top-ranked Jewish institution. It has four campuses across New York City: Wilf, Israel Henry Beren, Brookdale Center, and Jack and Pearl Resnick. The types and subject scopes of its undergrad and grad programs are varied. They offer online programs, evening courses, dual studies, and more. Both liberal arts and sciences are covered.
5. Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is an academic arm of the Mount Sinai Health System that manages hospital campuses in New York. The school is globally leading in terms of medical and scientific training, research, and patient care. Its research is funded by the National Institutes of Health and is among the 99th percentile of private medical schools in research dollars per investigator.
6. Fordham University
Being a Jesuit institution located in the heart of New York, Fordham University is probably one of the oldest Catholic colleges situated in the United States. Having many famous alumni among its ranks, this institution was the academic institution attended by Donald Trump, a few billionaires, government officials, and even cardinals of the Catholic Church. Playing a key role in the government of the United States, Fordham University offers a wide variety of academic subjects established in the Jesuit discipline.
7. Pace University
With two colleges and four schools, Pace University offers over 100 undergraduate and graduate programs to 12,000 students. It has multiple campuses throughout New York City and Westchester, and it also has different opportunities for studying for up to a year in another country. Pace University is famous for its College of Arts, which offers multiple degree programs for those who want to work in the entertainment industry. In fact, its Center for the Arts has been the recording studio of a few famous TV shows and many important celebrities have worked in the theater. The university also has other modern facilities, like different research laboratories and the Women’s Justice Center.
8. The New School
Situated in a trendy place in New York City, The New School is an institution known for its specialization in design, performing arts, social research, and public engagement. Due to its focus on high-quality academic programs, this institution welcomes high-potential applicants alongside its cutting-edge faculty. Not only that, but this institution also houses one of the most international students, which leads to a welcoming culture and an awesome environment for foreign applicants.
9. St. John’s University
St. John’s University is a university that upholds Roman Catholic principles. It seeks to serve the growing immigrant population with high-quality education. The university has expanded dramatically over the years and has international campuses in Europe.
10. Barnard College
Barnard College is a women’s liberal arts college. It encourages students to go beyond their comfort zones and contribute to society through research. At Barnard, students have the chance to hone their skills and achieve total development because of its concentrated educational programs.
11. Touro University
Touro University was established as a higher education provider for the Jewish community. Over the years, the university has grown to become the largest private Jewish institution of higher and professional education that offers various degrees of education, from undergraduate to graduate studies, across 4 countries. The university is serving over 19,000 students across 35 schools across the world.
12. School of Visual Arts
The School of Visual Arts is a safe haven for students who have a passion for arts and design. The institution provides the necessary training that every aspiring artist would want. As an art school, it hopes to become the catalyst of innovation and creativity through campus activities and rigorous coursework.
13. New York Law School
The New York Law School is among the premier law schools in the United States. Here, students have the opportunity to choose between taking day or evening classes fit for their daily schedule. The New York Law School is the alma mater of notable figures in business and politics, like the famed TV personality and family court judge, Judith “Judge Judy” Sheidlin.
14. Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art is a private institution for higher education founded in 1859 in New York City. It was primarily established with the intention of providing equal and accessible innovative education. It is currently made up of three colleges offering programs in art, architecture, and engineering.Â
15. Manhattan College
Manhattan College is a private institution that offers 52 bachelor’s degree programs and 20 master’s degree programs in its six schools. It also offers multiple 5-year programs in which students can get a bachelor’s and a master’s degree faster. Since this is a Catholic inclusive university, it has worship opportunities for students from different religions. Additionally, community service is at the core of its education since the faculty not only encourages students to participate in volunteering but also has service-based learning experiences with non-profits as part of the programs’ curriculums.
16. Brooklyn Law School
In the populous city of New York stands the Brooklyn Law School. It is a comprehensive institution offering flexible post-graduate programs in law. The Legal Writing program of the Brooklyn Law School is widely recognized for equipping students with critical thinking and reasoning skills fitting for the competitive world of law.
17. The Juilliard School
Hailed among the world’s best performing arts universities is The Juilliard School. It features a competitive acceptance rate, with only 7% of applicants successfully getting in the prestigious university. The Juilliard School has won over 300 Emmy, Grammy, Tony, and Oscar awards through world-class performances and renowned alumni.
18. Bank Street College of Education
Bank Street College of Education is an educational institution that primarily focuses on giving graduate programs related to the education field. The establishment is full of experienced and well-adept faculty that can thoroughly train future educators in the country. It is also open to international students, which is why it is one of the best schools for aspiring teachers.
19. Berkeley College
Berkeley College is a private university with campuses in New York and New Jersey in the United States. It was founded in 1931 and is certified by the Central American Higher Education Commission. The university offers a variety of degree programs, including bachelor’s, master’s, and certificate programs. Continuing Education courses are also available on-campus and online.
20. St. Francis College
St. Francis College is a private educational institution that strives to provide excellent education and impart values founded on its Franciscan and Catholic heritage. It offers more than 70 programs in business, health sciences, and social sciences. The college shows its strong commitment to promoting diversity, equality, and inclusion by providing equal opportunities to all of its students and faculty and encouraging discussions to ensure that all members of the campus community are heard.
21. The King’s College
The King’s College is the perfect place for Christians that want to get a quality education at an institution with a close-knitted student body that puts its faith at the center of activities. This college is devoted to spreading and reinforcing Christian values while giving students the tools for developing hard and soft skills so they become the leaders of tomorrow. In fact, all bachelor’s programs have a multidisciplinary core curriculum that combines liberal arts with the study of scripture and ethics. It also has multiple non-academic activities and groups, like worship services and around 20 student organizations.
22. Marymount Manhattan College
Marymount Manhattan College’s programs center around the liberal arts. Most of these programs are for undergraduates and may be available as a major, minor, or concentration. Among US liberal arts colleges, Marymount Manhattan ranks 168th to 222nd.
Marymount started as a two-year college for women. Although the institution is now co-ed, most of the population comprises female students.
23. Manhattan School of Music
Manhattan School of Music is a private academic institution that specializes, as its name suggests, in the field of Music. The school provides undergraduate and graduate programs in Classical Music, Jazz Arts, Musical Theatre, Contemporary Performance, and Orchestral Performance. Students may learn on the side, or master different instruments they chose to. Various performances such as recitals and concerts are held by Manhattan School of Music, and some of these events are livestreamed by the academic institution itself.
24. Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology
Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology was founded in 1932 and originally established in New Jersey before moving to New York. The school specializes in aeronautics and aviation in both undergraduate and graduate level education. In terms of population, the school is highly diverse with over 10 ethnicities from across the globe. They envision to have transformational education through the core values of integrity, diversity, collaboration, achievement-oriented, and courage.
25. College of Mount Saint Vincent
College of Mount Saint Vincent is a 175-year-old Catholic liberal arts university located in New York City, United States. It was initially founded in 1847 as a women’s college by the Charity Sisterhood of New York and currently serves about 2,000 students through graduate programs in nursing, communication, education, and business. The College of Mount Saint Vincent has a ratio of approximately 13 to 1, and the most popular majors in the university are nursing, business, and psychology.
26. Metropolitan College of New York
Metropolitan College of New York (MCNY) is a private college in New York City. It was founded in 1964 by educational visionary Audrey Cohen as the Women’s Talent Corp. The college offers Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees and adheres to Cohen’s purpose-centered philosophy by focusing on a single educational theme each term. Community Organization, Business, Hospital Management, Public Administration, and Business Support Services are among the most popular majors at MCNY.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much does Private Universities in New York City Cost?
There are 26 private universities in New York City, New York, out of which, we have tuition fee of 25 private universities available.
As you plan your studies abroad, we hope that this article will help you in choosing a good private university.
We know that attending a private university can be expensive, given its benefits and added perks. But remember that public universities are always an option, too, as they're affordable and can provide you with the same high-quality education. With that, feel free to check out our list of public universities in New York City to learn more about your options for your next academic destination.