Top Universities in New York City: Columbia or NYU?

A global capital of culture and business, New York City is also one of the world’s most important centers of higher education. There are over half a million students in NYC, and more than 100 universities and colleges, of which an impressive 10 feature in the QS World University Rankings®.

Yet even with this array of choice, there are still two universities in New York that stand out from the crowd: Columbia University and New York University (NYU). These two top universities in New York City both make the global top 50 in the QS World University Rankings – in the 2014/15 edition, they’re ranked 14th and 41st in the world respectively. They also feature in the top 10 in several of the disciplines covered in QS World University Rankings by Subject.

Between them the universities have produced a galaxy of famous alumni: from politicians (Barack Obama) to business magnates (Warren Buffet), writers (Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac), musicians (Lauren Hill), film directors (Martin Scorcese, Woody Allen), and fashion designers (Tom Ford).

Choosing between the two top universities in New York City

Columbia University has traditionally been seen as the academic big shot of the two, a member of the prestigious Ivy League, a group of America’s most historically prestigious and selective institutions. However, far from living in its rival’s shadow, NYU has an identity and appeal all of its own.

Based in New York’s trendy downtown, and with tentacles spread throughout the city, NYU is a world-class university in its own right, and boasts one of the world’s most dynamic environments for arts, music and culture. Whereas Columbia offers the relative seclusion of an Ivy League campus experience, NYU places students in the heart of the city’s action. Centred in the heart of arty Greenwich Village, with no walls or gates, the university is, as it proudly states, “in and of the city”.

As you might expect from world-renowned institutions in such a desirable location, admission to either institution is extremely competitive. Few students will be lucky enough to receive an offer from one of the two, let alone both. But if you have good grades and are looking for the most exciting study experience the US has to offer, chances are at least one of these two top universities in New York City will be on your shortlist.

To help you decide which might be more suitable for you, here’s a look at how they compare on key indicators, with an at-a-glance overview followed by a more detailed comparison.

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Study in North Carolina

A coastal state bordered by South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee and Virginia, North Carolina is a state of contrasts.On the one hand you have a state that is very much part of the South, with all the charm, conservatism and rural pride you’d expect.On the other you have a state which is one of the fastest growing and intellectually sophisticated in the US.Charlotte, its largest city, for instance, can now lay claim to being second only to New York in terms of financial services, and is nothing if not a thriving metropolis.Capital city Raleigh and the surrounding area can boast the highest concentration of PhDs in the country and the small city of Asheville enjoys a celebrated cultural and countercultural scenes which belie its small size.If you were looking for the best of both worlds: the relaxed pace of life, the subtropical climate and the manners of the South, served up in combination with thriving, intellectual and cultural cities that don’t adhere to stereotypes at all, then North Carolina could be the place for you.

The state is also known for its rich musical heritage – jazz and folk music, in particular, run through its veins, and the Raleigh area has become known for rock in recent years.Finally, like many states in this region, it has natural beauty to spare. With the Great Smoky Mountains, the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Great Balsam Mountains and the Black Mountains all running through this Appalachian state, as well 17 major river basins and country’s two largest landlocked sounds, there’s more than enough to please to eye when you tire of the city.

North Carolina: Fast facts

• North Carolina’s population of 9.6 million is the country’s 10th biggest

• The state has many famous sons and daughters, including musicians John Coltrane, Thelonious Monk, and Nina Simone; boxer Sugar Ray Leonard, wrestling magnate Vince McMahon; and actress Pam Grier

• Famous brands Krispy Kreme and Pepsi started in North Carolina

• North Carolina leads the country in tobacco production, and is second only to Texas in brick production (it is also known for furniture)

• The world’s first powered flight took place in Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina

• North Carolina is believed to be the first state to declare independence from Britain in 1775

• The Cape Hatteras Light on Hatteras Island, North Carolina is the tallest lighthouse in the United States, standing at 61m

• There is a still a law in North Carolina saying that unmarried couples cannot live together , though it has been declared unconstitutional by a Superior Court judge

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