The New School is a private research university founded in 1919, located in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village neighbourhood in New York City. Its Parsons School of Design ranks #3 globally for Art and Design, as per QS World University Rankings 2024, giving The New School one of the strongest creative-arts platforms available to Indian applicants.
The New School enrols over 10,000 students from more than 116 countries across five colleges, Parsons, Eugene Lang College, the School of Performing Arts, the New School for Social Research, and the Schools of Public Engagement. All degrees are English-medium, with Fall and Spring intakes and a second Parsons Paris campus. Popular Indian pathways include BFA Fashion Design, MFA Design & Technology, MS Media Management, MS Environmental Policy, and MA Media Studies. Universities in USA comparable in tier are considered peers for creative-track applicants.
- QS World Ranking 2027: #851-900
- Acceptance Rate: 63% (estimated)
- Intakes: Fall (primary) and Spring
- Parsons PG Tuition 2026-27: $63,940/year (₹60.98 Lakh)
- International Students: 3,500+ from 100+ countries
- Employment Within One Year: 91% of graduates
Also Check: MS Universities in USA
Institutional merit scholarships are delivered automatically with the admission decision letter, averaging $14,629 (₹13.95 Lakh) in the first year for undergraduates. The New School’s financial aid guarantee locks institutional scholarships at admission-year value for the full degree duration. Indian applicants apply on the F-1 visa route and typically budget $24,000-$30,000 (₹22.89-28.61 Lakh) annually for living costs in New York City, on top of tuition, before considering the study in USA OPT work-authorisation window.
Exchange rate used: 1 USD = INR 95.37 as of August 2026
Admission Status: Open (Fall 2027 intake). Parsons graduate priority deadline is January 5, 2027, and the New School for Social Research masters priority deadline is January 7, 2027. Undergraduate Regular Decision closes January 15, 2027, with Early Action or Early Decision closing November 1, 2026. A Spring 2027 intake is also open for select undergraduate and graduate programs with an October 15, 2026 priority deadline.
Table of Contents
- Popular Courses and Fees at The New School 2027
- The New School Admission 2027
- The New School Admission Requirements for Indian Applicants 2027
- The New School Acceptance Rate 2027
- The New School Fees and Cost of Living for Indian Students 2027
- The New School Campus, Facilities and Student Life
- The New School Scholarships 2027
- The New School Rankings 2027
- The New School Placements and Career Outcomes 2027
- The New School vs Peer Universities
- The New School FAQs
Popular Courses and Fees at The New School 2027
The New School charges programme-level tuition set per semester at a flat block rate for full-time students, with lower per-credit charges for part-time and studio-heavy tracks. Parsons Paris follows a separate schedule, so any Paris programme fee should be confirmed against its own tuition page. Programme durations are 4 years for BFA and BA, and 2 years for most MFA, MA and MS degrees, translating to two semesters per academic year at published block rates.
The New School Popular PG Programs 2027
The Parsons and Schools of Public Engagement tables below cover the highest-demand masters programs among Indian applicants for Fall 2027.
| Program | Total Fee (USD) | Total Fee (₹ Lakh) | Entry Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| MFA Fashion Design and Society (Parsons) | $127,880 (2 yrs) | 121.96 Lakh | Bachelor’s with CGPA 6.5/10 or 60% (recommended) |
| MFA Design and Technology (Parsons) | $127,880 (2 yrs) | 121.96 Lakh | Bachelor’s with CGPA 6.5/10 or 60% (recommended) |
| MS Strategic Design and Management (Parsons) | $127,880 (2 yrs) | 121.96 Lakh | Bachelor’s with CGPA 6.5/10 or 60% (recommended) |
| MS Data Visualization (Parsons) | $127,880 (2 yrs) | 121.96 Lakh | Bachelor’s with CGPA 6.5/10 or 60% (recommended) |
| MFA Photography (Parsons) | $1,959/credit | 1.87 Lakh/credit | Bachelor’s with CGPA 6.5/10 or 60% (recommended) |
| MA Fashion Studies (Parsons) | $2,182/credit | 2.08 Lakh/credit | Bachelor’s with CGPA 6.5/10 or 60% (recommended) |
| MS Media Management (Schools of Public Engagement) | $67,800 (2 yrs) | 64.66 Lakh | Bachelor’s with CGPA 6.0/10 or 55% (recommended) |
| MS International Affairs (Schools of Public Engagement) | $67,800 (2 yrs) | 64.66 Lakh | Bachelor’s with CGPA 6.0/10 or 55% (recommended) |
| MA Media Studies (Schools of Public Engagement) | $101,176 (2 yrs) | 96.49 Lakh | Bachelor’s with CGPA 6.0/10 or 55% (recommended) |
| MFA Contemporary Theatre and Performance (School of Drama) | $117,452 (2 yrs) | 112.02 Lakh | Bachelor’s with CGPA 6.5/10 or 60% (recommended) |
The New School Popular UG Programs 2027
Parsons BFA blocks and Eugene Lang BA programs share the same $31,174 per-semester rate for full-time enrolment, giving a uniform annual sticker.
| Program | Total Fee (USD) | Total Fee (₹ Lakh) | Entry Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| BFA Fashion Design (Parsons) | $249,392 (4 yrs) | 237.85 Lakh | Class 12 with 75% or above (recommended) |
| BFA Product Design (Parsons) | $249,392 (4 yrs) | 237.85 Lakh | Class 12 with 75% or above (recommended) |
| BFA Communication Design (Parsons) | $249,392 (4 yrs) | 237.85 Lakh | Class 12 with 75% or above (recommended) |
| BA Contemporary Music (School of Jazz) | $249,392 (4 yrs) | 237.85 Lakh | Class 12 with 70% or above (recommended) |
| BA Liberal Arts (Eugene Lang) | $249,392 (4 yrs) | 237.85 Lakh | Class 12 with 70% or above (recommended) |
Insider note: Indian applicants most commonly enrol in Parsons BFA Fashion Design, MFA Design and Technology, and the SPE masters in Media Management or Environmental Policy, where cohort size and post-degree OPT viability are strongest.
Read More: The New School Fees and Cost of Living Guide
The New School Admission 2027
The New School runs a two-intake cycle each year, Fall (August start) and Spring (January start), with Fall serving as the primary intake for Indian applicants across Parsons, NSSR, Schools of Public Engagement, Drama, and Mannes.
| Milestone | Date | Notes for Indian Applicants |
|---|---|---|
| Parsons Graduate Fall 2027 priority deadline | January 5, 2027 | All Parsons MFA, MA and MS programs share this priority date |
| New School for Social Research Fall 2027 masters priority | January 7, 2027 | Second deadline May 5, 2027; final August 1, 2027 |
| Undergraduate Regular Decision Fall 2027 | January 15, 2027 | Early Action or Early Decision closes November 1, 2026 |
| Spring 2027 select programs | October 15, 2026 | Applies to most bachelor’s programs and NSSR masters |
| Credential verification (WES) | Start 6-8 weeks before deadline | WES course-by-course evaluation is the standard for Indian transcripts |
Planning note: Parsons portfolios go through the SlideRoom platform, and Indian applicants should budget three to four weeks before the January 5 deadline for portfolio refinement, artist statement and one recommendation upload.
Read More: The New School Admissions Guide for Indian Students
The New School Admission Requirements for Indian Applicants 2027
Requirements are set per school, so Indian applicants should confirm exact test minimums and portfolio needs against the target program’s own instructions page.
- PG academic: Bachelor’s degree with CGPA 6.5/10 or 60% (recommended) for Parsons and Drama; CGPA 6.0/10 or 55% (recommended) for SPE masters.
- English test minimums (Parsons Graduate): TOEFL iBT 92 (writing 5.0, speaking 5.0), IELTS Academic 7.0, PTE Academic 63, Duolingo 115 writing / 110 speaking, Cambridge C1 or C2 minimum 185.
- English test minimums (NSSR): TOEFL iBT 100, IELTS 7.5, PTE 68, Duolingo 120 writing / 115 speaking, Cambridge 191.
- Portfolio or audition: Required for all Parsons, School of Drama, School of Jazz and Mannes programs, uploaded via SlideRoom.
Undergraduate applicants need a Class 12 result with 70% or above (recommended), the same English test scores as Parsons Graduate, and a Common Application submission. GRE and GMAT are optional across masters programs, and English tests can be waived if the applicant completed four consecutive years of English-medium schooling.
Key insight: Test scores must be dated within the past two years of the application deadline, so Indian applicants who tested in early 2025 should retake before the Fall 2027 cycle if their scores expire.
The New School Acceptance Rate 2027
The New School operates as a moderately selective institution. The published overall acceptance rate sits at 63% (estimated) based on third-party admissions data, with an early-round admit rate near 93%. Selectivity varies sharply by school, with Parsons BFA and School of Drama MFA cohorts running tighter than the university average because of portfolio and audition filters.
Because the university does not release an official Indian-applicant admission rate, the number above should be read as an all-applicant estimate rather than a country-specific figure. The larger predictor of an offer is portfolio quality and statement fit, not GPA or test scores in isolation.
Reality check: A 63% headline rate hides real selectivity in Parsons BFA Fashion Design and the MFA Design and Technology cohort, where portfolio bars filter out a significant share of applicants before academic review.
Read More: The New School Acceptance Rate
The New School Fees and Cost of Living for Indian Students 2027
A first-year Indian student at Parsons Graduate should budget a total of $87,940-$93,940 (₹83.87-89.60 Lakh) for tuition and living combined, before institutional scholarship offsets. The SPE masters tier reduces this envelope to roughly $57,900-$63,900 (₹55.22-60.94 Lakh) for the same year.
The New School Tuition Fees for Indian Students 2026-27
Tuition is billed per semester for full-time enrolment; per-credit rates apply for part-time and specific studio programs. The rates below are the New School’s published 2026-27 figures, which carry forward as the base for the Fall 2027 cohort.
| Program Level | Annual Fee (USD) | Annual Fee (₹ Lakh) |
|---|---|---|
| Parsons BFA (UG) | $62,348 | 59.46 Lakh |
| Eugene Lang BA (UG) | $62,348 | 59.46 Lakh |
| Parsons MFA / MA / MS (PG) | $63,940 | 60.98 Lakh |
| School of Drama / Mannes (PG) | $58,726 | 56.02 Lakh |
| SPE MS (Media, International Affairs, Environmental Policy) | $33,900 | 32.33 Lakh |
| NSSR MA (per credit) | $2,062-$2,624 | 1.97-2.50 Lakh |
| University Services fee | $1,440/year | 1.37 Lakh |
Cross-check on the MS in USA cost benchmark before applying, since NYC sits at the top of the national cost band.
The New School Monthly Cost of Living for Indian Students in New York
New York City carries the highest cost of living among major US student destinations, driven by rent. A shared apartment in Manhattan or Brooklyn is the norm for Parsons and NSSR students.
| Expense Head | Monthly (USD) | Monthly (₹) |
|---|---|---|
| Accommodation (shared) | $1,200-$1,800 | ₹1.14-1.72 Lakh |
| Food and Groceries | $400-$600 | ₹38,148-57,222 |
| Transportation (MTA MetroCard) | $132 | ₹12,589 |
| Books and Supplies | $100-$150 | ₹9,537-14,306 |
| Personal Expenses | $200-$300 | ₹19,074-28,611 |
| Total Monthly | $2,032-$2,982 | ₹1.94-2.84 Lakh |
| Total Annual | $24,000-$30,000 | ₹22.89-28.61 Lakh |
[Source: The New School official cost estimate; Collegedunia USA cost benchmarks]
Insider note: Indian students who commit to a shared 2BHK in Bushwick or Ridgewood can hold monthly rent near $1,200, saving roughly ₹7-8 Lakh annually versus a Manhattan studio.
Read More: Cost of Living in New York City for Indian Students
The New School Campus, Facilities and Student Life
The New School’s primary campus is a network of academic buildings across Manhattan’s Greenwich Village neighbourhood, integrated with a second Parsons Paris campus and hybrid formats for select programs.
- Location and transport: Campus buildings cluster around 14th Street and Fifth Avenue, served by the 14 St-Union Square subway station on four MTA lines.
- Housing: On-campus residence halls (Kerrey Hall, 20th Street, Loeb Hall) house first-year students on request; upper-year students typically rent off-campus in Brooklyn or Lower Manhattan.
- Notable facility: Sheila C. Johnson Design Center serves as Parsons’s public exhibition and studio hub, featuring student thesis shows and industry-jury reviews.
- Indian community: Active South Asian Student Alliance and Indian Students Association host cultural nights, career panels and mentorship pairings for new arrivals.
- Support services: International Student and Scholar Services desk handles I-20 issuance, OPT filing workshops and F-1 status counselling on campus.
What Indian students say: Cohort diversity is the loudest positive, followed by New York industry access for internships. The main pain points reported are rent and the mandatory health insurance premium, both of which Indian students recommend budgeting for upfront.
The New School Scholarships 2027
The New School delivers over 25 named scholarships and grants across UG and PG, with at least six merit-only routes fully open to Indian applicants. Institutional awards are automatic with admission decisions, so no separate application is needed for the core merit pool.
| Scholarship | Type | Award Value | Eligibility | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New School Merit Scholarship | Institutional, merit | Average $14,629 (₹13.95 Lakh) first year | All admits including Indian applicants | Automatic with admission |
| NSSR Graduate Scholarship | Institutional, merit | Average 49% tuition coverage; awarded to 90% of admits | NSSR MA, MFA, MS admits | Automatic with admission |
| Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowship | External, government | Full tuition, stipend, travel | Indian nationals with 55% in bachelor’s, 3 years’ work | Mid-May 2026 (USIEF) |
| JN Tata Endowment Loan Scholarship | External, private | ₹1-10 Lakh interest-free loan | Indian nationals under 45 with a bachelor’s | Late-March 2026 |
| KC Mahindra PG Studies Abroad | External, private | Up to ₹10 Lakh (₹8 Lakh loan + ₹2 Lakh grant) | Indian nationals with a confirmed offer | Late-March 2026 |
Planning note: The New School’s financial aid guarantee locks the institutional scholarship value for the full degree, so an Indian student receiving a $14,000 first-year award holds the same annual amount through year four of a BFA.
Read More: The New School Scholarships Guide
The New School Rankings 2027
The New School’s strongest current ranking is Parsons’s subject placement at #3 globally for Art and Design in QS 2024, while the overall institution has moved to the #851-900 band in QS World University Rankings 2027 from a stronger #561-570 in QS 2026.
| Ranking Body | Latest Edition | Previous Edition | Two Editions Back |
|---|---|---|---|
| QS World University Rankings | 2027: #851-900 | 2026: #561-570 | NA |
| Times Higher Education World Rankings | 2026: #1001-1200 | NA | NA |
| US News Best Colleges (National, USA) | 2026: #133 | NA | NA |
| Collegedunia Study Abroad | #620 of 824 | NA | NA |
[Source: QS, THE, US News, Collegedunia Study Abroad]
Subject standing is where The New School genuinely leads. Parsons has been ranked the top US art and design school by QS for five consecutive years, and Collegedunia Study Abroad places it at #178 of 385 globally and #59 of 146 in the USA for Arts, alongside subject-adjacent standings in Humanities and Social Studies.
Key insight: For an Indian applicant, Parsons’s subject rank matters more than the overall QS band, because US employers and creative-sector recruiters index Parsons by its design pedigree rather than the parent university’s world position.
Read More: The New School Rankings Analysis
The New School Placements and Career Outcomes 2027
The New School reports strong post-graduation outcomes with 91% of graduates employed or in further study within one year of completion.
- Employment within one year: 91% of graduates across programs, per The New School career-outcomes reporting.
- Median starting salary: Not centrally disclosed by the university; market medians for New York City creative and design roles hover in the $55,000-$75,000 (₹52.45-71.53 Lakh) range for entry-level design and media graduates.
- Recruiter profile: Sector mix skews toward fashion houses, design studios, media firms, publishing, non-profit and public-policy organisations rather than a single named recruiter list.
- Career support: The Career Development Office runs sector-specific advising, portfolio critiques, alumni panels and a public jobs board across all schools.
- Post-study work: Standard 12-month OPT applies; STEM-designated masters (MS Data Visualization, MS Strategic Design and Management) qualify for a 24-month OPT extension, giving Indian graduates up to 36 months of US work authorisation.
Insider note: Indian Parsons graduates cluster in New York and remote-friendly design studios, with H-1B lottery risk still the largest post-OPT variable rather than initial placement rate.
The New School vs Peer Universities
Indian applicants typically compare The New School against other New York and Rhode Island art and design schools with similar Parsons-tier subject strength.
| University | QS Ranking 2027 | Collegedunia Study Abroad 2026 | Avg Annual PG Fee | Differentiator |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The New School | #851-900 | #620 of 824 | $63,940 (₹60.98 Lakh) | Interdisciplinary art, design and social research under one roof |
| Pratt Institute | #1201-1400 (QS 2026) | NA | ~$60,000 (₹57.22 Lakh) (market median) | Brooklyn design focus, architecture and industrial-design depth |
| Rhode Island School of Design | Not ranked (QS World) | NA | ~$60,000 (₹57.22 Lakh) (market median) | Studio-first fine arts, Providence campus culture |
| Fashion Institute of Technology | Not ranked (QS World) | NA | ~$32,000 (₹30.52 Lakh) (market median) | SUNY public tuition, garment-industry adjacency |
The New School stands out on interdisciplinary breadth. It pairs Parsons’s subject rank with NSSR’s social-research reputation and SPE’s policy masters, a combination no other US design school on this list offers under one university.
Compare further against master’s in fashion design in USA and the broader fashion design universities in USA to check subject-fit alternatives.
The New School fits an Indian applicant whose target is a creative-track masters or BFA in New York with subject-tier faculty and NYC industry access. Total four-year BFA investment lands near ₹237 Lakh gross of merit scholarships, which aligns with strong creative-sector salaries in New York and Bengaluru studios post-OPT.
It is a weaker fit for STEM-heavy applicants targeting large research budgets, engineering pipelines or a Big-Tech recruiter list, where a Columbia or NYU offer serves the same city with different program depth.
The New School FAQs
Ques. What is The New School best known for academically?
Ans. The New School is best known for Parsons School of Design, ranked #3 globally for Art and Design by QS in 2024, and for the New School for Social Research’s philosophy and anthropology programs. Its Schools of Public Engagement adds policy-oriented masters in Environmental Policy and International Affairs. The combined identity is interdisciplinary creative and critical-theory education, delivered from Greenwich Village campuses in Manhattan.
Ques. How does the Parsons portfolio review work for Indian applicants?
Ans. Parsons portfolios are uploaded via the SlideRoom platform alongside the Common Application. Undergraduate applicants submit 8-12 works plus a Parsons Challenge project, while graduate applicants submit 15-20 works aligned with program focus. Faculty reviewers evaluate concept development, craft and coherence rather than technical polish alone. Indian applicants should include process sketches, iterations and a short annotation on each work to strengthen the narrative.
Ques. Can Indian students get merit scholarships at The New School?
Ans. Yes, The New School considers every admit, including Indian applicants, for merit-based University Scholarships during admissions review. No separate application is required. The award is confirmed in the admission decision letter and averages $14,629 (₹13.95 Lakh) for first-year undergraduates. NSSR graduate admits receive an award averaging 49% tuition coverage, with 90% of admits receiving some level of institutional aid.
Ques. Does The New School require GRE for graduate admission?
Ans. No, The New School does not require GRE scores for its Parsons, School of Drama, Mannes, School of Jazz or Schools of Public Engagement masters programs. NSSR PhD programs remain paused for most tracks except Clinical Psychology. Some SPE masters may consider GRE if optionally submitted. Indian applicants should verify their target program’s application instructions page before deciding whether to sit for the exam.
Ques. How competitive is The New School admissions for Indian students?
Ans. The New School is moderately selective at the institution level with a 63% (estimated) overall acceptance rate. Selectivity tightens sharply inside Parsons BFA Fashion Design, MFA Design and Technology, and School of Drama MFA, where portfolio and audition filters carry more weight than GPA. Indian applicants with strong process portfolios and clear artistic statements typically fare well against the volume filter.
Ques. What OPT extension do New School STEM graduates receive?
Ans. STEM-designated masters at Parsons, including MS Data Visualization and MS Strategic Design and Management, qualify for the 24-month OPT STEM extension on top of the standard 12-month OPT. This gives Indian graduates up to 36 months of US work authorisation post-degree. Non-STEM programs like MFA Fashion Design carry the standard 12-month OPT only. STEM designation should be verified on the specific program’s page before applying.
Ques. Are New School degrees valid in India for jobs and PhD?
Ans. Yes, New School degrees are US regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which India’s Association of Indian Universities recognises for both employment and further PhD study equivalency. Indian graduates typically process an AIU equivalence certificate on return, useful for public-sector jobs, teaching positions and doctoral admissions at IITs, TISS and central universities.
Ques. Which loan lenders in India recognize New School degrees?
Ans. Major Indian education-loan lenders including HDFC Credila, Avanse, ICICI Bank, State Bank of India, Axis Bank and Prodigy Finance recognise New School programs for study-abroad loans, covering tuition, living expenses and airfare. Loan quantum typically ranges ₹40-80 Lakh depending on collateral and cosigner profile. Indian applicants should hold the I-20 and admission letter before initiating the loan sanction process.
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The New School Reviews
1 Reviews Found
Overview
I was attracted to the emphasis on interdisciplinary learning. Parsons allows you to pursue multiple design fields before narrowing down to one which was essential for someone like me who was not sure what she wanted to pursue initially.
Fees
Around $27,000 / semester
The New School Scholarships
| Name | Scholarship Per Student | Level of Study | Type | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chuan Ai Lu Engstrom Memorial Scholarship | Scholarship per student$1,000 | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeMerit-Based | |
| Jagdish Bhagwati Fellowship | Scholarship per studentVariable Amount | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeCollege-Specific | |
| Bharat Petroleum Scholarship | Scholarship per studentVariable Amount | Level Of StudyMaster | TypeMerit-Based | |
| Comindware Scholarship | Scholarship per student$4,000 | Level Of StudyApprenticeship | TypeMerit-Based | |
| Forktip Women’s- Innovation Scholarship | Scholarship per studentVariable Amount | Level Of StudyBachelor | TypeCollege-Specific | |
| FINCAD Women in Finance Scholarship | Scholarship per student$20,000 | Level Of StudyMaster | TypeMerit-Based |
View All 21 Scholarships
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The New School Admissions
Application Portal: https://www.newschool.edu/admission/
Early Action Deadlines
Important Date: November1 (Application deadline)Important Date: April1 (Application results)Regular Decision Deadlines
Important Date: January15 (Application deadline)Important Date: April1 (Application results)
The New School Exam Scores
| Exams | Avg. Score | Min Score | Max. Score | %Submitted' |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | ||||
| SAT | 1205 | 1100 | 1310 | 26 |
| Check Detailed Score | ||||
| Evidence-Based Reading and Writing | 615 | 570 | 660 | - |
| Mathematics | 590 | 530 | 650 | - |
| ACT | 26 | 24 | 28 | 17 |
| Check Detailed Score | ||||
| English | 28 | 24 | 31 | - |
| Mathematics | 25 | 22 | 28 | - |
Attendance Cost
The table shows average yearly cost of attendance for international students. Amount may vary with the course opted, nature of accommodation, and personal spending habits of a candidate.Check Program wise Fees
The New School Accreditations
Faculty
| Total Faculty | Full Time | Part Time | Graduate Assistants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 35121 | 6788 | 28333 | 820 |


















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