Cornell University vs New York University

This page compares Cornell University and New York 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, 80% chose to attend New York University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, New York University is ranked #8 compared to #18 — a gap of 10 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

Both schools are located in New York — Cornell University in Ithaca and New York University in New York City — 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 54.1% for the other school. This 18 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Cornell University offered a median scholarship of $127,500 compared to $75,000, a difference of $52,500 that may factor into enrollment decisions.