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Head-to-head · 37 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 51% chose BC. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 37 self-reported decisions and ABA 509 filings.

Choice, not ranking

These are decisions, not opinions. Scholarship offers, location, intended practice, and personal fit are all priced into the split.

37
cross-admits
13
cycles
+6pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 37 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
Boston College logo Chose BC
51%
Chose Fordham Fordham University logo
49%

Median scholarship (chose BC)

$81,000 / yr

Median scholarship (chose Fordham)

$105,000 / yr
View all-time (133 cross-admits)
54% chose BC 46% chose Fordham

Trend · BC's share

2004–2024

Lowest cycle

29%

Highest cycle

86%
13 cycles
100 50 0 04 07 08 09 10 16 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 2004: 50% 2007: 60% 2008: 29% 2009: 86% 2010: 78% 2016: 40% 2018: 80% 2019: 56% 2020: 45% 2021: 29% 2022: 63% 2023: 40% 2024: 56%
BC #29 · Fordham #24 LSD n≈8/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Boston College logo
BC
Newton, Massachusetts
Fordham University logo
Fordham
Bronx, New York
USN Rank
#20
#42
LSD Rank
#29 (0.022)
#24 (0.027)
LSAT 25th
162
165
LSAT Median
168
168
LSAT 75th
169
170
GPA Median
3.83
3.79
Acceptance Rate
8.5%
16.2%
Class Size
219
444
Yield Rate
33.2%
30.3%

Financial

Sticker price and scholarship aid
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Boston College logo
BC
Newton, Massachusetts
Fordham University logo
Fordham
Bronx, New York
Tuition (In-State)
$72,380
$78,078
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$72,380
$78,078
Median Grant
$24,000
$35,000
% Receiving Grants
89.0%
87.0%

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2025 ABA Employment
Metric
Boston College logo
BC
Newton, Massachusetts
Fordham University logo
Fordham
Bronx, New York
BigLaw (501+)
45.1%
44.8%
Judicial Clerkships
8.5%
6.4%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
96.2%
90.2%
Bar Pass Rate
93.8%
93.0%

Overview

About BC vs Fordham

Across 37 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 51% enrolled at Boston College and 49% at Fordham University. The split has shifted +6 points across the tracked cycles.

These numbers reflect every factor that goes into a real decision: scholarship offers, geographic preference, intended practice area, and fit. Choosing one school doesn't mean it's "better" — it means the pool of cross-admits, weighing their options, ended up there more often. Pair this with the scholarship distribution and employment outcomes above for full context.

Looking at a different matchup? Browse all comparisons or run a custom pair from the index.

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Detailed comparison narrative

This page compares Boston College and Fordham University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 37 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 37 applicants admitted to both schools, 51% chose to attend Boston College. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, Boston College is ranked #20 compared to #42 — a gap of 22 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

Boston College is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 8.5% compared to Fordham University's 16.2%.

Boston College is located in Newton, Massachusetts, while Fordham University is in Bronx, New York. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.

On cost, Boston College has lower tuition at $72,380 per year compared to $78,078. Combined with employment rates of 96.2% (BC) and 90.2% (Fordham), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Fordham University offered a median scholarship of $105,000 compared to $81,000, a difference of $24,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.