Policy and Strategy Department
Written Case Study
Private and Confidential
PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL
NYU Abu Dhabi competes with elite global universities for top international students, and
its financial aid policy should benchmark this peer group
Basis for benchmark: Selectivity, global diversity, and academic outcomes
NYUAD Positioning Peer Benchmark Group
o MIT
4% Admit Rate o Harvard
o Princeton
124 Nationalities o Yale
o Stanford
17 Rhodes Scholars o Northwestern
o UPenn
15 Schwarzman Scholars o Duke
Financial aid policy should benchmark elite universities competing for the same student pool
1
Elite peer universities provide financial aid to ~56% of students on average, with coverage
typically ranging from ~46–65%
Benchmark derived from peer universities’ undergraduate financial aid coverage
Undergraduate Students Receiving Financial Aid (%)
~56% Average financial aid
coverage across peers
62% 62%
60%
58%
56%
55% 55%
50%
46% ~46–62% Peer benchmark range
Princeton Northwestern Stanford MIT Harvard Yale Duke UPenn NYUAD ~60% Suggested NYUAD financial aid coverage
Peers
Source: Financial Aid (MIT, Harvard, Princeton, Yale, Stanford, Northwestern, University of Pennsylvania, Duke)
2
Elite universities typically offer broader financial aid coverage for domestic students, while
aid for international students is more limited and selective
Comparison of financial aid policies across peer universities
Financial Aid Policy Differences by Student Type
Policy Dimension Domestic Students International Students
Admissions policy Often need-blind Frequently need-aware
Limited aid budgets for international
Financial aid eligibility Most universities guarantee need-based aid
students
Share of students receiving Larger proportion of domestic students
Smaller proportion receive aid
aid receive aid
Institutional endowment + government aid
Funding sources Primarily institutional funds
programs
Financial aid coverage Aid often meets full demonstrated need Aid may be limited or merit-based
Given its highly international student body (124 nationalities), NYUAD must rely more heavily on institutional financial
aid compared with peers
3
Financial aid policies at elite universities are shaped by institutional resources, student
composition, strategic positioning, and financial sustainability
Key drivers shaping financial aid policies across elite universities
Institutional Finance Student Composition Strategic Positioning Financial Sustainability
o Larger endowments enable broader o Domestic student populations benefit o Financial aid helps attract top global o Financial aid must balance student
financial aid coverage from national aid programs talent access with budget constraints
o Endowment income funds need- o International student enrollment o Generous aid policies support o International aid is often limited due
based grants and scholarships increases reliance on institutional academic competitiveness and to higher institutional funding
funding diversity requirements
4
Global talent attraction and international student support should drive NYUAD’s financial
aid policy
Primary drivers for NYUAD financial aid policy (ranked by importance)
1 2 3 4
Global Talent Attraction International Student Peer Financial Aid Financial Sustainability
Composition Benchmark
5
NYUAD should target ~60% financial aid coverage, prioritizing need-based aid to remain
competitive with elite peers
Recommended financial aid strategy for NYUAD
Target aid coverage
o Align with peer
benchmark
o UAE citizens: ~60– Prioritize need-
65% aid coverage based aid
o International o Promote access and Support
students: ~55–60% socioeconomic international
aid coverage diversity recruitment
o Align with elite o NYUAD has a highly Ensure financial
university financial international sustainability
aid models student body o Align aid expansion
o Competitive aid with institutional
needed to attract funding capacity
top global talent o Ensure long-term
financial
sustainability
6
Thank you.