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CUNY vs New York Law School
Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
Cross-Admit Decision Data
Of 14 applicants admitted to both schools:
Based on 14 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles
View all-time data (27 cross-admits)
27 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
CUNY is 75+ · NYLS is 75+ in the LSD rankings
See full LSD.Law school rankings →About this comparison
This page compares CUNY and New York Law School across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.
In the U.S. News rankings, New York Law School is ranked #121 compared to #156 — a gap of 35 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
Both schools are located in New York — CUNY in Queens and New York Law School in New York City — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.
Employment outcomes differ substantially: New York Law School places 13.0% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 2.3% for the other school. This 11 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
On cost, CUNY has lower tuition at $15,450 per year compared to $71,052. Combined with employment rates of 75.1% (CUNY) and 91.6% (NYLS), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
Among cross-admitted applicants, New York Law School offered a median scholarship of $139,500 compared to $24,000, a difference of $115,500 that may factor into enrollment decisions.
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Admissions Comparison
2025 ABA 509How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.
| Metric | CUNY | NYLS |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #156 | #121 ▲ |
| LSD Rank | 75+ (0.002) ▲ | 75+ (0.001) |
| LSAT 25th | 152 | 154 ▲ |
| LSAT Median | 155 | 157 ▲ |
| LSAT 75th | 161 ▲ | 160 |
| GPA Median | 3.54 | 3.63 ▲ |
| Acceptance Rate | 28.6% ▲ | 39.7% |
| Class Size | 219 | 409 |
| Yield Rate | 32.2% ▲ | 24.8% |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | CUNY | NYLS |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $15,450 ▲ | $71,052 |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | $25,640 ▲ | $71,052 |
| Median Grant | $8,000 | $40,000 ▲ |
| % Receiving Grants | 17.0% | 85.0% ▲ |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | CUNY | NYLS |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 2.3% | 13.0% ▲ |
| Judicial Clerkships | 4.2% | 8.4% ▲ |
| Median Salary (Private) | $85,000 | - |
| Employment Rate | 75.1% | 91.6% ▲ |
| Bar Pass Rate | 65.7% | 81.9% ▲ |
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