Head-to-head · 19 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 90% chose Cornell University. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 19 self-reported decisions and ABA 509 filings.
Choice, not ranking
These are decisions, not opinions. Scholarship offers, location, intended practice, and personal fit are all priced into the split.
Cross-admit decision
Chose Cornell University
Median scholarship (chose Cornell University)
Median scholarship (chose USC)
View all-time (75 cross-admits)
Trend · Cornell University's share
Lowest cycle
Highest cycle
Admissions
Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield 2026 ABA 509
Financial
Sticker price, scholarships, and debt burden 2026 ABA 509
Employment & outcomes
Post-graduation placement and bar passage 2025 ABA Employment
Cross-admit by cycle
How preferences shifted over recent cyclesRelated comparisons
Other popular cross-admit matchups
Harvard University
140
Columbia University
98
University of Pennsylvania
72
Georgetown University
66
University of Michigan
65
Overview
About Cornell University vs USC
Across 19 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 90% enrolled at Cornell University and 10% at University of Southern California.
These numbers reflect every factor that goes into a real decision: scholarship offers, geographic preference, intended practice area, and fit. Choosing one school doesn't mean it's "better" — it means the pool of cross-admits, weighing their options, ended up there more often. Pair this with the scholarship distribution and employment outcomes above for full context.
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Detailed comparison narrative
This page compares Cornell University and University of Southern California across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.
In the U.S. News rankings, Cornell University is ranked #13 compared to #26 — a gap of 13 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
Cornell University is located in Ithaca, New York, while University of Southern California is in Los Angeles, California. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.
Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Southern California offered a median scholarship of $165,000 compared to $120,000, a difference of $45,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.