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New York, NY · Private University

Is The New School Worth It?

ROI analysis based on real earnings and cost data

Below AverageRanked #3421 of 3,472 schools by ROI

Key Numbers

10-Year Earnings

$52,901

median, 10 years after enrollment

In-State Tuition

$56,386

per year

Out-of-State Tuition

$56,386

per year

Total 4-Year Cost

$225,544

tuition only (4 years)

ROI Ratio

0.94x

earnings ÷ annual tuition

Payback Period

12.6 yrs

years to recoup total cost

Graduation Rate

71.2%

6-year graduation rate

Median Debt

$22,266

at graduation

Avg Net Price

$55,359

after aid & scholarships

Earnings vs. Annual Cost

10-year median earnings compared to annual tuition

Median Earnings (10yr)$52,901
Annual Tuition$56,386
National Median Earnings$45,000

The New School graduates earn $7,901 more than the national median of workers with any education level.

What You'd Actually Pay

Average net price after grants and scholarships, by family income

Under $30,000$48,206/yr
$30,000 – $48,000$51,201/yr
$48,000 – $75,000$52,728/yr
$75,000 – $110,000$56,942/yr
Over $110,000$61,849/yr

Source: IPEDS net price data. Actual costs vary based on individual financial circumstances.

Highest-Earning Majors

Top programs at The New School ranked by graduate earnings

1
Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management.$62,966

86 graduates

2
Design and Applied Arts.$53,334

236 graduates

3
Communication and Media Studies.$48,499

46 graduates

4
Literature.$42,021

45 graduates

5
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities.$41,766

70 graduates

Earnings shown are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 1-year medians.

ROI by Major at The New School

All available majors ranked by graduate earnings. Your major matters as much as your school.

Your major matters more than your school

At The New School, the gap between the highest-earning major (Arts, Entertainment,and Media Management: $62,966) and the lowest (Drama/Theatre Arts and Stagecraft: $24,909) is $38,057/yr, bigger than the difference between many schools.

MajorEarningsROI
Arts, Entertainment,and Media ManagementBest ROI$62,9661.1x
Film/Video and Photographic Arts$53,4710.9x
Design and Applied Arts$53,3340.9x
Communication and Media Studies$48,4990.9x
Literature$42,0210.8x
Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities$41,7660.7x
International/Global Studies$36,1960.6x
Fine and Studio Arts$33,4480.6x
Radio, Television, and Digital Communication(1yr data)$32,1690.6x
Computer Software and Media Applications(1yr data)$29,5500.5x
Music$26,1660.5x
Psychology, General$25,4160.5x
Drama/Theatre Arts and StagecraftLowest$24,9090.4x

Earnings are 4-year post-graduation medians where available, otherwise 5-year or 1-year. ROI = earnings ÷ annual tuition.

The Bottom Line

The New School carries higher costs relative to graduate earnings, warranting careful consideration. Graduates earn $52,901 10 years after starting, $7,901 above the national median of $45,000. At the current earnings trajectory, it takes approximately 12.6 years to recover the total cost of attendance.

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Earnings data from the U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard. Tuition data from IPEDS. ROI calculations are for informational purposes only and reflect median outcomes.