Roughly half of NYU's day happens underground. Whether you commute from Queens or just cross the river for a Tandon class, the subway sets your real timetable.
The stations that matter
- West 4th Street–Washington Square — A, C, E, B, D, F, M. The workhorse.
- 8th Street–NYU — R, W. Small, close, often quicker than it looks.
- Astor Place — 6. Best for the East Village halls.
- 14th Street–Union Square — 4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R, W. Your transfer hub.
- Jay Street–MetroTech — A, C, F, R. The Tandon stop in Brooklyn.
Once you know those five stops, most of Manhattan is 15 minutes away. If you're wondering about the obvious one: how far NYU is from Times Square — about two miles, or roughly ten minutes on the N, R or W.
Washington Square to Brooklyn
Budget 35 to 45 minutes door to door, not the 20 the map suggests. NYU runs shuttle buses between the campuses, which are more comfortable but no faster in traffic.
If you have classes on both sides in one day, try to stack them — a single crossing beats two.
Building a schedule that survives
Avoid back-to-back across boroughs. One delayed F train ruins the whole afternoon.
Protect a home base. Commuters need somewhere to land between classes. Our study spots guide is written partly for this.
Watch weekend service changes. They are announced late and rewrite your route without warning.
Street level counts too. Closed sidewalks and sidewalk sheds around NYU's constant construction add minutes at both ends of every trip.
Commuting versus living in
Commuting saves real money — see the cost guide — but it costs you the unplanned hours where most of college actually happens. If you can afford either, decide which you'd miss more, then read the dorm guide.
Editor's note: This is an independent guide and is not affiliated with or endorsed by New York University or the MTA. Subway service, shuttle routes and fares change. Confirm current details with the MTA and NYU before relying on them.