Cornell University vs Harvard University

This page compares Cornell University and Harvard University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 118 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 118 applicants admitted to both schools, 100% chose to attend Harvard University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, Harvard University is ranked #6 compared to #18 — a gap of 12 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

Harvard University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 9.2% compared to Cornell University's 18.2%.

Cornell University is located in Ithaca, New York, while Harvard University is in Cambridge, Massachusetts. 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 51.4% for the other school. This 21 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, Harvard University has lower tuition at $77,100 per year compared to $84,722. Combined with employment rates of 98.0% (Cornell University) and 90.7% (HLS), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Cornell University offered a median scholarship of $135,000 compared to $105,110, a difference of $29,890 that may factor into enrollment decisions.