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American University vs Northeastern University

Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes

Cross-Admit Decision Data

Of 26 applicants admitted to both schools:

23%
77%
Median scholarship: $120,000 Median scholarship: $99,000

Based on 26 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles

View all-time data (56 cross-admits)
32% chose AU 68% chose NUSL

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.

Compare Another Pair

American University
vs
Northeastern University

Admissions Comparison

2025 ABA 509

How 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 509

Tuition, 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 509

Post-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%

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