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Columbia University vs Northwestern University
Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
View all-time data (259 cross-admits)
259 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
CLS is #5 · NU is #12 in the LSD rankings
See full LSD.Law school rankings →About this comparison
This page compares Columbia University and Northwestern University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 56 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 56 applicants admitted to both schools, 93% chose to attend Columbia 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: #10 and #10, separated by just 0 positions, making cross-admit data especially useful for deciding between them.
Columbia University is located in New York City, New York, while Northwestern University is in Evanston, Illinois. 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, Northwestern University has lower tuition at $79,772 per year compared to $85,368. Combined with employment rates of 95.6% (CLS) and 95.6% (NU), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
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Admissions Comparison
2025 ABA 509How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.
| Metric | CLS | NU |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #10 | #10 |
| LSD Rank | #5 (2.470) ▲ | #12 (0.471) |
| LSAT 25th | 169 ▲ | 167 |
| LSAT Median | 173 | 173 |
| LSAT 75th | 175 | 175 |
| GPA Median | 3.92 | 3.96 ▲ |
| Acceptance Rate | 11.8% ▲ | 12.3% |
| Class Size | 444 | 250 |
| Yield Rate | 36.8% ▲ | 25.0% |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | CLS | NU |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $85,368 | $79,772 ▲ |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | $85,368 | $79,722 ▲ |
| Median Grant | $32,000 | $40,000 ▲ |
| % Receiving Grants | 54.0% | 76.0% ▲ |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | CLS | NU |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 65.4% ▲ | 64.1% |
| Judicial Clerkships | 6.5% | 7.4% ▲ |
| Median Salary (Private) | - | - |
| Employment Rate | 95.6% | 95.6% |
| Bar Pass Rate | 95.8% ▲ | 91.8% |
Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle
How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.
CLS
NU
| Cycle | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025 |
86%
|
21 |
| 2023-2024 |
100%
|
12 |
| 2022-2023 |
100%
|
13 |
| 2021-2022 |
89%
|
9 |
| 2020-2021 |
91%
|
23 |
| 2019-2020 |
100%
|
10 |
| 2018-2019 |
80%
|
10 |
| 2017-2018 |
100%
|
13 |
| 2016-2017 |
94%
|
16 |
| 2014-2015 |
71%
|
7 |
| 2013-2014 |
70%
|
10 |
| 2012-2013 |
86%
|
14 |
| 2011-2012 |
100%
|
12 |
| 2010-2011 |
88%
|
8 |
| 2009-2010 |
100%
|
9 |
| 2008-2009 |
100%
|
15 |
| 2007-2008 |
83%
|
12 |
| 2006-2007 |
84%
|
19 |
| 2005-2006 |
93%
|
14 |
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