New York University Investment Banking Placement (2026)

New York University's Stern School of Business is one of the largest feeders into investment banking in the United States. Located in the heart of Manhattan's Greenwich Village, Stern students have unparalleled access to Wall Street—every major bank's headquarters is a subway ride away. Stern's finance concentration is explicitly designed to prepare students for careers in banking, covering financial accounting, corporate finance, valuation, and financial modeling in depth. The sheer volume of Stern graduates entering IB each year creates a massive and active alumni network. Banks view Stern as a top target alongside Wharton and Georgetown, with every major bulge bracket and elite boutique recruiting heavily on campus. Beyond Stern, NYU's College of Arts and Science (CAS) economics majors and Tandon School of Engineering students also break into IB, though Stern provides the most structured path. The school's diversity and international student body also means strong connections to global banking markets.

Stern places among the highest volumes of any school into IB. Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and J.P. Morgan each hire 20-35+ Stern analysts annually. Bank of America, Citi, and Barclays also recruit large classes. Elite boutiques including Evercore, Lazard, Centerview, and Moelis have strong Stern pipelines. The breadth is exceptional—Stern students place into every major product group (M&A, LevFin, restructuring) and industry group (TMT, healthcare, FIG, industrials). Placement is overwhelmingly in New York, with some students securing roles in other major cities.

Internal competition at Stern is intense—there are simply a lot of students all targeting the same roles. Differentiate yourself through strong grades (3.6+ for top banks), leadership positions in finance clubs, and genuine relationships with alumni. The Stern IB Club training program is essential—apply early. Take advantage of NYC by networking year-round, not just during recruiting season. If you're in CAS or another school within NYU, you can still break in but need to be more proactive; consider taking Stern courses and joining Stern-affiliated clubs. Don't just rely on volume; quality of preparation matters more than anything.