Boston University vs Northeastern University

This page compares Boston University and Northeastern University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 34 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 34 applicants admitted to both schools, 85% chose to attend Boston University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, Boston University is ranked #22 compared to #68 — a gap of 46 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: Boston University has a median LSAT of 170 compared to 164, a gap of 6 points. This suggests applicants to Boston University face a more competitive admissions pool.

Boston University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 12.1% compared to Northeastern University's 24.2%.

Both schools are located in Massachusetts — Boston University in Boston and Northeastern University in Boston — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.

Employment outcomes differ substantially: Boston University places 35.7% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 19.6% for the other school. This 16 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Northeastern University offered a median scholarship of $135,000 compared to $89,250, a difference of $45,750 that may factor into enrollment decisions.