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Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
Cross-Admit Decision Data
Of 26 applicants admitted to both schools:
Based on 26 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles
View all-time data (56 cross-admits)
56 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
AU is 150+ · NUSL is Top 75 in the LSD rankings
See full LSD.Law school rankings →About this comparison
This page compares American University and Northeastern University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 26 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 26 applicants admitted to both schools, 77% chose to attend Northeastern University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.
In the U.S. News rankings, Northeastern University is ranked #68 compared to #104 — a gap of 36 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
American University is located in Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C., while Northeastern University is in Boston, Massachusetts. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.
Among cross-admitted applicants, American University offered a median scholarship of $120,000 compared to $99,000, a difference of $21,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.
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Admissions Comparison
2025 ABA 509How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.
| Metric | AU | NUSL |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #104 | #68 ▲ |
| LSD Rank | 150+ (0.002) | Top 75 (0.007) ▲ |
| LSAT 25th | 157 | 161 ▲ |
| LSAT Median | 162 | 164 ▲ |
| LSAT 75th | 163 | 166 ▲ |
| GPA Median | 3.63 | 3.77 ▲ |
| Acceptance Rate | 33.3% | 24.2% ▲ |
| Class Size | 405 | 283 |
| Yield Rate | 20.2% | 20.4% ▲ |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | AU | NUSL |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $66,990 | $65,652 ▲ |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | $66,990 | $65,652 ▲ |
| Median Grant | $40,000 ▲ | $31,000 |
| % Receiving Grants | 59.0% | 95.0% ▲ |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | AU | NUSL |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 13.4% | 19.6% ▲ |
| Judicial Clerkships | 13.9% ▲ | 6.1% |
| Median Salary (Private) | $100,000 | - |
| Employment Rate | 83.0% | 91.1% ▲ |
| Bar Pass Rate | 81.3% | 87.4% ▲ |
Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle
How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.
| Cycle | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025 |
0%
|
7 |
| 2022-2023 |
20%
|
5 |
| 2021-2022 |
38%
|
8 |
| 2005-2006 |
40%
|
5 |
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