Is WashU or NYU worth the cost for an undergraduate degree?

It can be worth the cost, but only in fairly specific situations. For most students, WashU or NYU make financial sense only if the net price is close to what your family can comfortably pay, or if the school offers a distinctly better path for your academic goals than your in-state option. If you would need heavy borrowing for all four years, the upside usually does not justify the debt for an undergraduate degree.

WashU tends to make the most sense for a student who wants a traditional residential campus, close faculty access, and strong support in pre-med, biomedical fields, research, or interdisciplinary study. It has a reputation for excellent undergraduate advising and a more contained campus experience, which can matter if you want your academic and social life centered in one place. For a student who would thrive in that environment and can get a manageable financial aid package, the value can feel much clearer.

NYU is easier to justify for a student who will really use New York itself as part of the education. That is especially true in fields like finance, media, arts, entertainment, policy, and some areas of business where internships during the school year can materially shape your opportunities. But NYU’s costs can be especially hard to swallow because living expenses are high, and the urban experience is not automatically a better undergraduate experience for everyone.

A practical way to think about it is this: compare net cost, not sticker price, and measure the difference against your in-state option over all four years. If WashU or NYU would mean modest debt and a much better academic or career fit, applying can be very reasonable. If the premium is large and the alternative is a solid state flagship or honors program, the cheaper option is often the smarter long-term move, especially if you may later pay for medical school, law school, or graduate school.