NYJC has come into prominence for its steady rise to be among colleges with the most competitive academic achievements, faring well above the national average for most of the subjects at the annual GCE A Level examination. The college is popular with students given its forward-looking school culture; for example, students are given flexibility with their dress code. This was also reflected by the growing selectivity and increasingly stringent entry requirements for applicants year-on-year. As of 2019, NYJC is now the most selective junior college in Singapore.