Head-to-head · 13 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 100% chose NYU. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 13 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 NYU
Median scholarship (chose NYU)
Median scholarship (chose CUNY)
Admissions
Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield 2025 ABA 509
Financial
Sticker price, scholarships, and debt burden 2025 ABA 509
Employment & outcomes
Post-graduation placement and bar passage 2024 ABA Employment
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Overview
About NYU vs CUNY
Across 13 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 100% enrolled at New York University and 0% at CUNY.
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 New York University and CUNY across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.
In the U.S. News rankings, New York University is ranked #7 compared to #171 — a gap of 164 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: New York University has a median LSAT of 172 compared to 155, a gap of 17 points. This suggests applicants to New York University face a more competitive admissions pool.
New York University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 13.4% compared to CUNY's 28.6%.
Both schools are located in New York — New York University in New York City and CUNY in Queens — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.
Employment outcomes differ substantially: New York University places 54.1% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 2.3% for the other school. This 52 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
On cost, CUNY has lower tuition at $15,450 per year compared to $83,952. Combined with employment rates of 92.9% (NYU) and 75.1% (CUNY), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
Among cross-admitted applicants, New York University offered a median scholarship of $210,000 compared to $100,000, a difference of $110,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.