Cornell University vs Fordham University

This page compares Cornell University and Fordham University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 29 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 29 applicants admitted to both schools, 93% chose to attend Cornell University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, Cornell University is ranked #18 compared to #38 — a gap of 20 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

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

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

Employment outcomes differ substantially: Cornell University places 71.9% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 42.2% for the other school. This 30 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, Fordham University has lower tuition at $78,078 per year compared to $84,722. Combined with employment rates of 98.0% (Cornell University) 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 $120,000, a difference of $15,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.