Every year, NYU receives over 100,000 applications from high school students. However, last year, they only accepted 8% of freshman applicants and the median SAT of admitted freshmen was 1540. The good news is that the university admits thousands of transfer applicants every year. Even better, acceptance rates for transfers are roughly double the rate for freshman applicants. The following blog will reveal the NYU transfer acceptance rate as well as other essential pieces of information like the NYU transfer application deadline, the NYU transfer requirements, the NYU transfer GPA, and much more.
NYU Transfer Acceptance Rate
Below we present the most current available NYU transfer acceptance rate as well as historical data.
In 2022, 8,361 transfer applicants applied and 1,712 were admitted. This means that the NYU transfer acceptance rate is 20.4%.
In 2021, there were 9,042 transfer applicants and 2,337 individuals were accepted. This means that the NYU transfer acceptance rate was 25.8%.
When trying to get the complete picture of how difficult it is to transfer into any given institution, it is important to look at historical data. Many schools have wild fluctuations in transfer acceptance rates from year to year. As you can see, NYU’s rates have indeed been somewhat variable.
Historical NYU transfer rates are as follows:
| Year | NYU Transfer Acceptance Rate |
| 2020 | 41% |
| 2019 | 22% |
| 2018 | 25% |
| 2017 | 26% |
NYU Transfer Application Deadline
NYU offers both a fall and spring transfer admission cycle. The NYU transfer application deadline for fall applicants is April 1. The transfer deadline for spring applicants is November 1.
However, not all programs allow spring transfers. For example, the following programs within the Tisch School of the Arts only accept applications for a fall transfer:
- Cinema Studies
- Collaborative Arts
- Dance
- Drama
- Dramatic Writing
- Film and Television
- Game Design
- Interactive Media Arts
- Performance Studies
- Photography and Imaging
- Recorded Music
In addition, the Abu Dhabi and Shanghai campuses do not accept transfer students.
NYU Transfer Acceptance Rate (Continued)
NYU Transfer Requirements
All students must submit the following items as part of their NYU transfer application:
- A Common App for Transfer
- Official college transcripts
- Final high school transcripts (with graduation date)
- Letter of recommendation
- Portfolios (for some majors).
- NYU may ask for a midterm report, but it is not required for all applicants.
Students should also carefully research whether there are special requirements for the program they intend to apply to.
Students who have the best chance to gain admission to NYU have done the following:
- Completed at least 32 credits (one year) of college coursework.
- Earned exceptional grades in their first year at a community college or 4-year university.
- Completed lower-level coursework within their intended major.
Additionally, there is a Community College Transfer Opportunity Program (CCTOP) that helps community college students enter the university.
NYU Transfer GPA
This school does not reveal their average GPA for successful transfer students. However, in our experience working with NYU transfers, you will have the best chance with a 3.7 or better. This is not to say that your chances are nonexistent with a GPA below that mark, but a 3.7-4.0 GPA will undoubtedly put you on the firmest ground.
NYU Transfer Application Essays
New York University requires the following essay to be completed by all transfer applicants:
Please provide a statement that addresses your reason(s) for seeking transfer and the objectives you hope to achieve. How can NYU and the particular school, college, program, and/or area of study you are applying to support those goals? (2500 character maximum)
NYU Transfer Acceptance Rate (Continued)
When Do NYU Transfer Decisions Come Out?
Fall transfer decisions come out between May and June. Moreover, spring applicants will receive a decision between November and January.
Final Thoughts – NYU Transfer Acceptance Rate
For a highly selective university, NYU continues to be relatively “transfer-friendly.” Unlike many other elite institutions, the transfer acceptance rate at this school is not in the single digits. Around 3-4% of the student body are transfers. Some colleges/schools within the university are more competitive than others. For example, the Stern School of Business only takes transfers in the fall semester and gives preference to current students seeking internal transfers. On the other end of the spectrum, The Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development takes in hundreds of external transfers each year. In short, if you meet the NYU transfer requirements, you have a legitimate shot at achieving a positive outcome.
If you are looking for information on how to apply to NYU as a first-year student, you may find the following blogs to be of interest:
- How to Get Into NYU
- NYU Supplemental Essay Prompt and Tips
Those searching for application info on other institutions may wish to visit our Dataverse pages:
- Transfer Admissions Deadlines
- Transfer Acceptance Rates
Dave Bergman
Dave has over a decade of professional experience that includes work as a teacher, high school administrator, college professor, and independent educational consultant. He is a co-author of the books The Enlightened College Applicant (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016) and Colleges Worth Your Money (Rowman & Littlefield, 2020).
