Arizona State University vs Harvard University

This page compares Arizona State University and Harvard University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 38 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 38 applicants admitted to both schools, 100% chose to attend Harvard University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, Harvard University is ranked #6 compared to #45 — a gap of 39 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: Harvard University has a median LSAT of 174 compared to 165, a gap of 9 points. This suggests applicants to Harvard University face a more competitive admissions pool.

Harvard University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 9.2% compared to Arizona State University's 19.8%.

Arizona State University is located in Tempe, Arizona, while Harvard University is in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.

Employment outcomes differ substantially: Harvard University places 51.4% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 11.0% for the other school. This 40 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, Arizona State University has lower tuition at $28,390 per year compared to $77,100. Combined with employment rates of 93.5% (ASU) and 90.7% (HLS), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Harvard University offered a median scholarship of $147,615 compared to $130,000, a difference of $17,615 that may factor into enrollment decisions.