Boston University vs Cornell University

This page compares Boston University and Cornell University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 36 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 36 applicants admitted to both schools, 92% chose to attend Cornell University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

Both schools are closely ranked in U.S. News: #18 and #22, separated by just 4 positions, making cross-admit data especially useful for deciding between them.

Boston University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 12.1% compared to Cornell University's 18.2%.

Boston University is located in Boston, Massachusetts, while Cornell University is in Ithaca, 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.

Employment outcomes differ substantially: Cornell University places 71.9% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 35.7% for the other school. This 36 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, Boston University has lower tuition at $69,870 per year compared to $84,722. Combined with employment rates of 91.2% (BU) and 98.0% (Cornell University), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Boston University offered a median scholarship of $177,500 compared to $112,500, a difference of $65,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.