For a city-lover who craves nonstop excitement, there’s no better place to go to college than NYU. With its prime location in the heart of Manhattan, students can expect an unforgettable four years filled with diverse experiences, cultural exploration, and endless opportunities.
NYU understands the importance of comfortable living and provides housing options that are a cut above the typical college dorm experience. However, the amenities and conveniences of these residences can vary widely from building to building, making it essential for students to find the perfect fit for their needs and preferences.
To help you navigate your housing choices and find the best NYU dorms, we’ve researched and compiled a list of the top 8 options. These dorms offer the best combination of location, amenities, and community, ensuring that your college experience is nothing short of exceptional.
The Top 8 NYU Dorms
We spoke with NYU students and analyzed the specs of various housing options on campus to bring you the top 8 dorms at NYU. These dorms offer the best combination of location, amenities, and community for an unforgettable college experience in the city. Read on to learn about these residence halls and find your perfect home away from home at NYU.
Lipton Hall
- Building occupancy: 700
- Room types: Studio singles, suites with single and double bedrooms
- Air conditioning: Yes
- Carpeted rooms: No
- Kitchen: Yes
Lipton Hall is one of the most popular first-year housing choices at NYU. It offers a social and lively atmosphere (though it’s far from a party barn) for its roughly 700 students. Lipton is an easy place to make friends and get involved, whether you’re introverted or extroverted. The dorm is also highly sought-after for its spacious suites, which include single bedroom options for those who prefer privacy.
Lipton’s location is another major advantage. It’s close to Washington Square Park, making it easy for students to access classes, the library, the Kimmel Center, subways, and all the exciting things Greenwich Village has to offer. Because of the dorm’s prime location, you can often leave less than 10 minutes before class and still arrive on time.
Lipton Hall also has a great social vibe without it being overwhelming. The First Year Residential Experience (FYRE) program helps students transition to campus life, build community, and get to know New York City. With various events and activities, Lipton Hall encourages students to connect with each other and make lasting friendships.
Carlyle Court
- Building occupancy: 740
- Room types: Studio singles, suites with single and double bedrooms
- Air conditioning: Yes
- Carpeted rooms: No
- Kitchen: Yes
Carlyle Court at NYU primarily houses sophomores and is a popular housing option for many reasons. Students love the suite-style setup, which offers a comfortable living arrangement and extra space compared to a typical corridor-style room. Some suites even have private bedrooms.
Another popular feature of Carlyle Court is the fantastic views it offers. The residence hall is made up of three apartment buildings that overlook Union Square Park and center around a large, tree-filled courtyard.
The dorm’s proximity to Union Square is another great selling point. This central location provides easy access to various shops, restaurants, and entertainment options. You can enjoy a meal at nearby Panera Bread or Blue Water Grill, or shop for groceries at Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe’s. The Stand Restaurant & Comedy Club is also just a 10-minute walk away.
Brittany Hall
- Building occupancy: 579
- Room types: Suites with mostly double bedrooms
- Air conditioning: Yes
- Carpeted rooms: No
- Kitchen: Yes
Brittany Hall is another popular NYU housing option, especially for freshmen. This recently renovated residence hall is located on the corner of Broadway and East 10th Street, providing students with great views of the city. The rooms in Brittany Hall are newly renovated, featuring hardwood flooring and motion-activated lights, giving the space a modern and comfortable feel.
One of the reasons Brittany Hall is so popular is because of its spacious suites. Granted, most of the bedrooms are doubles, but the common areas in each suite allow you to get some space from your roommate if the need arises, without having to leave your residence entirely.
The building also offers a variety of amenities, such as the Rhodes Room, a large lounge and performance space, as well as a recreation room, music room, dance room, Penthouse Study Lounge, and laundry room.
W. Union Square Dorms
- Building occupancy: Approximately 80-100, depending on year
- Room types: Apartment-style suites
- Air conditioning: Yes
- Carpeted rooms: No
- Kitchen: Yes
The W. Union Square dorms at NYU are popular because of their great location and comfortable living spaces. These dorms are just a ten-minute walk from Washington Square Park, making it easy for students to get to classes and other campus activities. Plus, they are close to the gym and dining halls, so students can easily grab a meal or work out without having to trek across many blocks.
The suites in the W. Union Square dorms are set up more like apartments than traditional dorm rooms. The bedrooms are mostly doubles, but the suites have common areas and sometimes kitchens. There are a variety of room configurations at Union Square, so you should review the layout of the suite you’re considering.
The Union Square dorms also offer lounges with printer services and a nice courtyard for studying and relaxing.
Greenwich Hall
- Building occupancy: 320
- Room types: Suites with single and double bedrooms
- Air conditioning: Yes
- Carpeted rooms: No
- Kitchen: On hall
Greenwich Hall is another in-demand dorm at NYU. It’s located in the West Village area and houses around 320 residents. It offers single bedroom options, which always increase a dorm’s popularity. However, singles in Greenwich can be hard to come by, and the suites are otherwise small and don’t have kitchens (though there are community kitchens available on the hall).
A great perk of living in Greenwich Hall is the free cleaning service provided to the residents. This can be a big help for busy students who don’t have much time to clean their rooms. The location of Greenwich Hall is not exactly ideal, though. It’s a 10-minute walk to Washington Square Park, which can be inconvenient for students who have classes on the main campus.
Gramercy Green
- Building occupancy: Roughly 1,000
- Room types: Apartment-style suites with double and single bedrooms
- Air conditioning: Yes
- Carpeted rooms: No
- Kitchen: Yes
Students at NYU often compare Gramercy Green to a “palace” because of its opulence. This popular housing choice offers apartment-style living with single and double bedrooms, providing an ample amount of space and privacy. The dorm is located in the Gramercy Park area, which has a ton of things to do — nearby are landmarks like the Flatiron Building and the Empire State Building. Many residents also love to visit the Greenmarket at Union Square.
However, while the Gramercy Park area is a thriving neighborhood with a great mix of stores and residential buildings, it isn’t the most convenient for getting to class and other activities on campus at NYU. Despite this, many students find living in Gramercy Green more affordable than renting apartments in other popular neighborhoods near campus.
Lafayette Hall
- Building occupancy: Roughly 1,100
- Room types: Apartment suites with double and single bedrooms
- Air conditioning: Yes
- Carpeted rooms: No
- Kitchen: Yes
Lafayette Hall is a popular housing choice for nearly 1,100 upperclass students. One reason for its popularity is the apartment-style living spaces. These spaces include living areas and kitchens, making it feel more like a home away from home. Most apartment suites offer both single and double bedroom options — the singles tend to get snapped up first, and they’re also pricier.
The location of Lafayette Hall attracts some students and turns off others. It’s situated on the border of Chinatown and Tribeca, both culturally rich neighborhoods. This unique location allows students to explore City Hall, Little Italy, and SoHo.
So, why are some students put off by Lafayette’s location? For starters, it’s right next to a homeless shelter, which some students find uncomfortable (and potentially unsafe at night). It’s also a bit far from classes — you’ll have probably a 10 to 15 minute walk every morning.
University Hall
- Building occupancy: 606
- Room types: Suites with mostly doubles
- Air conditioning: Yes
- Carpeted rooms: No
- Kitchen: On hall
Rounding out our list of the 8 best NYU dorms is University Hall, or UHall. This is a popular housing choice, especially for freshmen. With amenities such as a TV lounge, music practice room with a piano, small conference room with a printing station, and a study lounge, it’s social but also provides plenty of quiet space to get work done. Because it houses mostly freshmen, it’s a great place to meet new friends and find your “tribe” on campus.
Residents also love UHall’s fast casual dining options. For a more substantial meal, close by is NYU Eats at Third North. UHall building also features a branch of the University Learning Center, which is NYU’s peer tutoring center.
