Cornell University vs Stanford University

This page compares Cornell University and Stanford University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 45 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 45 applicants admitted to both schools, 98% chose to attend Stanford University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, Stanford University is ranked #1 compared to #18 — a gap of 17 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

Stanford University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 6.1% compared to Cornell University's 18.2%.

Cornell University is located in Ithaca, New York, while Stanford University is in Stanford, California. 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 40.2% for the other school. This 32 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, Stanford University has lower tuition at $77,454 per year compared to $84,722. Combined with employment rates of 98.0% (Cornell University) and 85.9% (SLS), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Stanford University offered a median scholarship of $150,000 compared to $135,000, a difference of $15,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.