Academic Index Last updated: June 23, 2026

36 Best Universities in New York City

Our data-driven ranking evaluates 36 elite institutions across New York City to determine true academic prominence. We analyzed 1.04M scientific publications and 45.53M citations to accurately measure the research output of these institutions. With a collective network of 162.3K distinguished alumni, these universities demonstrate significant global reach and career outcomes.

Active Filters: New York City Ph.D. Clear All

Filter

Field of Study

Sub-Branch

1

Columbia University

#7 in United States #7 in North America

4% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1545 Avg SAT

1754 Founded

2

New York University

#16 in United States #17 in North America

9% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1520 Avg SAT

1831 Founded

3

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

#117 in United States #134 in North America

12% Acceptance

2,220 Enrollment

1245 Avg SAT

1963 Founded

4

Fordham University

#149 in United States #171 in North America

59% Acceptance

9,942 Enrollment

1400 Avg SAT

1841 Founded

5

Rockefeller University

#150 in United States #173 in North America

12% Acceptance

1,489 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

6

Yeshiva University

#199 in United States #226 in North America

56% Acceptance

29,640 Enrollment

1425 Avg SAT

1886 Founded

7

#215 in United States #242 in North America

63% Acceptance

6,591 Enrollment

1400 Avg SAT

1919 Founded

8

St John’s University – New York

#242 in United States #273 in North America

83% Acceptance

4,709 Enrollment

1245 Avg SAT

1870 Founded

9

SUNY Downstate Medical Center

#276 in United States #307 in North America

11% Acceptance

1,341 Enrollment

1245 Avg SAT

1860 Founded

10

Pace University

#277 in United States #308 in North America

76% Acceptance

9,942 Enrollment

1260 Avg SAT

1906 Founded

11

Lehman College, CUNY

#395 in United States #441 in North America

57% Acceptance

9,536 Enrollment

1000 Avg SAT

1968 Founded

12

New York Law School

#447 in United States #494 in North America

47% Acceptance

1,125 Enrollment

1485 Avg SAT

1891 Founded

13

#506 in United States #557 in North America

61% Acceptance

4,872 Enrollment

1336 Avg SAT

1971 Founded

14

CUNY Hunter College

#598 in United States #655 in North America

54% Acceptance

9,536 Enrollment

1260 Avg SAT

1870 Founded

15

Brooklyn Law School

#619 in United States #678 in North America

35% Acceptance

1,062 Enrollment

1485 Avg SAT

1901 Founded

16

#755 in United States #823 in North America

88% Acceptance

669 Enrollment

1240 Avg SAT

1883 Founded

17

Jewish Theological Seminary of America

#931 in United States #1003 in North America

49% Acceptance

240 Enrollment

1510 Avg SAT

$58,152 Net Price

18

Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York

#949 in United States #1021 in North America

74% Acceptance

302 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

19

Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion

#979 in United States #1051 in North America

86% Acceptance

20 Enrollment

1510 Avg SAT

20

Juilliard School

#993 in United States #1066 in North America

9% Acceptance

1,989 Enrollment

1192 Avg SAT

1905 Founded

21

SUNY College of Optometry

#1159 in United States #1234 in North America

33% Acceptance

515 Enrollment

1475 Avg SAT

1971 Founded

22

Manhattan School of Music

#1190 in United States #1266 in North America

41% Acceptance

1,989 Enrollment

1339 Avg SAT

1917 Founded

23

CUNY City College

#1320 in United States #1398 in North America

60% Acceptance

12,982 Enrollment

1250 Avg SAT

1847 Founded

24

CUNY Graduate School and University Center

#1359 in United States #1439 in North America

68% Acceptance

17,560 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1961 Founded

25

CUNY Bernard M Baruch College

#1457 in United States #1542 in North America

48% Acceptance

16,496 Enrollment

1250 Avg SAT

1919 Founded

26

New York College of Podiatric Medicine

#1546 in United States #1632 in North America

94% Acceptance

564 Enrollment

1140 Avg SAT

1911 Founded

27

Weill Cornell Medical College

#1610 in United States #1697 in North America

12% Acceptance

28

General Theological Seminary

#1676 in United States #1764 in North America

76% Acceptance

234 Enrollment

1125 Avg SAT

29

College of Staten Island CUNY

#1782 in United States #1871 in North America

92% Acceptance

9,536 Enrollment

1070 Avg SAT

1956 Founded

30

Teachers College at Columbia University

#1863 in United States #1954 in North America

17% Acceptance

31

CUNY School of Law

#1870 in United States #1961 in North America

35% Acceptance

9,942 Enrollment

1305 Avg SAT

1983 Founded

32

New York Theological Seminary

#1968 in United States #2061 in North America

84% Acceptance

33

Mesivtha Tifereth Jerusalem of America

#2327 in United States #2428 in North America

60% Acceptance

51 Enrollment

$8,290 Net Price

34

Rabbinical Academy Mesivta Rabbi Chaim Berlin

#2425 in United States #2526 in North America

94% Acceptance

141 Enrollment

$7,614 Net Price

35

Mirrer Yeshiva Cent Institute

#2452 in United States #2553 in North America

89% Acceptance

120 Enrollment

$12,871 Net Price

36

Yeshiva Derech Chaim

#2480 in United States #2581 in North America

88% Acceptance

115 Enrollment

$13,471 Net Price