NYU is #1

Interesting survey done by Hillel, on the schools with the largest numbers of Jewish Students. The largest overall, of both private and public universities, is New York University, with 6,500. Actually, according to NYU's estimates, the total number of Jewish students enrolled in both the undergraduate and graduate programs is around 12,500 - which is almost 1/3 of the student body. Dat's a lotta Jews.

Obviously, New York City's large Jewish demographic is a huge part of the city's identity, and I am sure that is a big draw to Jewish university applicants, especially ones that come from locales with smaller Jewish populations. From the Washington Square News:

CAS freshman David Gromet said he came to NYU and New York City for their large Jewish communities, even though he does not participate in the Bronfman Center’s activities and services.

“Coming from a place where there was a fair amount of stigma attached to being Jewish, more so than New York, was definitely a reason that I came here — to just be able to be who I am without having to constantly justify myself or be a representative of my religion,” Gromet said.

The survey reports that NYU's Orthodox population has grown as well, tripling in recent years to a number of 300. This is, I'm sure, due to the services offered both by the University itself, as well as the huge number of resources such as kosher restaurants and synagogues that are available in the New York Metropolitan area.

“For 300 Orthodox students who keep strict kosher Shabbat rules and pray regularly, going to a college with no kosher facility or Orthodox services is virtually a nonoption,” Sarna said. “There are only 15 or so private [colleges] which have orthodox communities.”

NYU has steadily been increasing its Kosher dining options and recently revised the salad bar and meal options with the help of student input, Pines said.

Who thought that NYU would win the prize for being even Jewier than YU?