The college resembles a traditional liberal arts and science college, but with an interdisciplinary focus, in which faculty are grouped into broad divisions rather than discipline-specific departments.

[1] In the 2021–2021 academic year, New College enrolled approximately 2700 students and 120 faculty.

[2] Many of the degree programs are unique to the college within the larger university.

Academic programs are divided among four schools: Humanities, Arts and Cultural Studies, Interdisciplinary Forensics, Mathematical and Natural Sciences, and Social and Behavioral Sciences.

Being within a research university, New College is research-oriented,[3] with a particular focus on involving undergraduate students.