Columbia University vs Fordham University

This page compares Columbia University and Fordham University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 47 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 47 applicants admitted to both schools, 100% chose to attend Columbia University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, Columbia University is ranked #10 compared to #38 — a gap of 28 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: Columbia University has a median LSAT of 173 compared to 168, a gap of 5 points. This suggests applicants to Columbia University face a more competitive admissions pool.

Both schools are located in New York — Columbia University in New York City and Fordham University in Bronx — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.

Employment outcomes differ substantially: Columbia University places 65.4% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 42.2% for the other school. This 23 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, Fordham University has lower tuition at $78,078 per year compared to $85,368. Combined with employment rates of 95.6% (CLS) and 94.9% (Fordham), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Fordham University offered a median scholarship of $135,000 compared to $93,750, a difference of $41,250 that may factor into enrollment decisions.