NYU, Columbia, and Cornell: A Guide for New York Families

For many New York families, and plenty from elsewhere, NYU, Columbia, and Cornell sit near the top of the list. They're often grouped together, but their applications work differently: each has its own early plans, each is changing or has changed its testing policy, and at all three, students apply to a specific school or program within the university rather than to the university as a whole.

The Three at a Glance (Fall 2027)

NYU

NYU offers two binding Early Decision rounds, November 1 and January 1, plus Regular Decision on January 5. According to NYU, "standardized testing is optional for the upcoming application term," and applicants to performing and visual arts programs submit auditions or portfolios.

The most important NYU decision is the program. Students choose their campus or campuses and their program of interest on NYU's pages within the Common App, so a student should know which NYU school fits them, and why, before applying. Early Decision II gives students deferred or denied elsewhere in December a second binding option at NYU.

Columbia

Columbia has a single Early Decision round, due November 1, with an Early Decision financial aid deadline of November 15 and decisions in mid-December. Regular Decision is due January 1. Applicants choose between Columbia College and Columbia Engineering, answer Columbia-specific questions, and submit two teacher recommendations; for Engineering applicants, one must come from a math or science teacher.

Testing is changing. Students applying to enter in fall 2027 may choose whether to submit scores, but Columbia College and Columbia Engineering are "returning to required standardized testing" for the 2027–28 cycle, meaning students applying for fall 2028 will need the SAT or ACT, with a waiver available for those who face challenges meeting the requirement. Families with a current sophomore or junior should plan testing with that in mind.

Cornell

Cornell's Early Decision deadline is November 1, with other required materials due November 13 and decisions in mid-December. Regular Decision is due January 2. Cornell requires SAT or ACT scores.

At Cornell, students apply to one undergraduate college or school, each with its own writing prompts. That choice matters twice. It shapes the application, and for New York residents it can shape the cost: four of Cornell's colleges, Agriculture and Life Sciences, the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, Human Ecology, and Industrial and Labor Relations, are state-supported contract colleges. According to Cornell, 2025–26 tuition for New York residents in those colleges was $49,816, compared with $73,946 in its endowed colleges. The choice should follow a genuine academic interest, not the price alone, but it's worth knowing.

Choosing an Early Decision School Among the Three

All three offer binding Early Decision, and a student can have only one pending Early Decision application at a time. A few questions help:

• Which school within the university fits best? A student who's torn between an NYU program, Columbia Engineering, and a Cornell college should be clear about the academic fit before committing.
• Is the application strongest now or in January? NYU's Early Decision II allows a binding application after senior fall grades; Columbia and Cornell have one early round.
• Does the family need to compare aid? Early Decision ends that option. Run each net price calculator first.
• Does the testing plan fit? Cornell requires scores now; Columbia and NYU are optional for fall 2027.

Our guide to Early Decision and Early Action covers the rules in detail, and our guide for NYC private school students covers the local context, including CUNY's Macaulay Honors College.

Final Thought

NYU, Columbia, and Cornell reward applicants who know exactly which part of the university they're applying to and why. The families who navigate them best settle that question, and the testing plan, before senior year starts. For how these fit into a broader list, see our guide to building a balanced college list. Passage Point Admissions is based in South Florida and offers virtual advising anywhere in the U.S., including our advising for highly selective colleges.