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Cornell University vs Northwestern University
Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
Cross-Admit Decision Data
Of 50 applicants admitted to both schools:
Based on 50 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles
View all-time data (146 cross-admits)
146 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
Cornell University is #14 · NU is #12 in the LSD rankings
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About this comparison
This page compares Cornell University and Northwestern University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 50 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 50 applicants admitted to both schools, 64% chose to attend Northwestern 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: #9 and #13, separated by just 4 positions, making cross-admit data especially useful for deciding between them.
Cornell University is located in Ithaca, 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.
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Admissions Comparison
2025 ABA 509How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.
| Metric | Cornell University | NU |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #13 | #9 ▲ |
| LSD Rank | #14 (0.200) | #12 (0.428) ▲ |
| LSAT 25th | 168 ▲ | 167 |
| LSAT Median | 173 | 173 |
| LSAT 75th | 175 | 175 |
| GPA Median | 3.92 | 3.96 ▲ |
| Acceptance Rate | 18.2% | 12.3% ▲ |
| Class Size | 217 | 250 |
| Yield Rate | 25.1% ▲ | 25.0% |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | Cornell University | NU |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $84,722 | $79,772 ▲ |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | $84,722 | $79,722 ▲ |
| Median Grant | $30,000 | $40,000 ▲ |
| % Receiving Grants | 91.0% ▲ | 76.0% |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | Cornell University | NU |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 71.9% ▲ | 64.1% |
| Judicial Clerkships | 7.1% | 7.4% ▲ |
| Median Salary (Private) | - | - |
| Employment Rate | 98.0% ▲ | 95.6% |
| Bar Pass Rate | 96.4% ▲ | 91.8% |
Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle
How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.
Cornell University
NU
| Cycle | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-2026 |
50%
|
6 |
| 2024-2025 |
0%
|
8 |
| 2023-2024 |
33%
|
12 |
| 2022-2023 |
40%
|
10 |
| 2021-2022 |
50%
|
14 |
| 2020-2021 |
16%
|
19 |
| 2018-2019 |
0%
|
7 |
| 2017-2018 |
0%
|
6 |
| 2016-2017 |
43%
|
7 |
| 2014-2015 |
17%
|
6 |
| 2013-2014 |
29%
|
7 |
| 2010-2011 |
11%
|
9 |
| 2008-2009 |
17%
|
6 |
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