Emory vs NYU for finance: which is better for recruiting and internships?

For finance recruiting and internships, NYU usually has the stronger direct pipeline, especially for investment banking, markets, and buy-side roles in New York. Emory is still very solid, but it is generally a step below NYU in volume of on-campus finance recruiting and proximity-driven access.

If your goal is high-finance recruiting at the undergraduate level, NYU gives you a clearer advantage. Being in Manhattan matters because students can intern during the school year, attend firm events in person without travel, and build relationships with alumni across banks and finance firms much more easily.

Emory places well into finance too, and it has a strong alumni network with good outcomes in banking, consulting, and corporate finance. It tends to do particularly well in the Southeast and also sends students to New York, but the path can require more intentional networking and travel. The school’s smaller size can be a plus for mentorship and individualized support, though it does not fully offset NYU’s location and recruiting density.

A practical way to think about it is this: NYU is usually better for maximizing finance access and interview volume, while Emory can still be excellent if you prefer its campus environment and are proactive about recruiting. If cost is similar and finance recruiting is the main priority, NYU is typically the better choice. If Emory is meaningfully cheaper, that can absolutely change the decision, since finance outcomes are strong enough there to justify choosing the lower-cost option.