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Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
Cross-Admit Decision Data
Of 31 applicants admitted to both schools:
Based on 31 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles
View all-time data (56 cross-admits)
56 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
Fordham is #24 · NUSL is Top 75 in the LSD rankings
See full LSD.Law school rankings →About this comparison
This page compares Fordham University and Northeastern University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 31 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 31 applicants admitted to both schools, 77% chose to attend Fordham University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.
In the U.S. News rankings, Fordham University is ranked #38 compared to #68 — a gap of 30 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: Fordham University has a median LSAT of 168 compared to 164, a gap of 4 points. This suggests applicants to Fordham University face a more competitive admissions pool.
Fordham University is located in Bronx, New York, while Northeastern University is in Boston, Massachusetts. 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: Fordham University places 42.2% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 19.6% for the other school. This 23 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
On cost, Northeastern University has lower tuition at $65,652 per year compared to $78,078. Combined with employment rates of 94.9% (Fordham) and 91.1% (NUSL), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
Among cross-admitted applicants, Northeastern University offered a median scholarship of $164,250 compared to $105,000, a difference of $59,250 that may factor into enrollment decisions.
Compare Another Pair
Admissions Comparison
2025 ABA 509How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.
| Metric | Fordham | NUSL |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #38 ▲ | #68 |
| LSD Rank | #24 (0.033) ▲ | Top 75 (0.007) |
| LSAT 25th | 165 ▲ | 161 |
| LSAT Median | 168 ▲ | 164 |
| LSAT 75th | 170 ▲ | 166 |
| GPA Median | 3.79 ▲ | 3.77 |
| Acceptance Rate | 16.2% ▲ | 24.2% |
| Class Size | 444 | 283 |
| Yield Rate | 30.3% ▲ | 20.4% |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | Fordham | NUSL |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $78,078 | $65,652 ▲ |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | $78,078 | $65,652 ▲ |
| Median Grant | $35,000 ▲ | $31,000 |
| % Receiving Grants | 87.0% | 95.0% ▲ |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | Fordham | NUSL |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 42.2% ▲ | 19.6% |
| Judicial Clerkships | 4.8% | 6.1% ▲ |
| Median Salary (Private) | $215,000 | - |
| Employment Rate | 94.9% ▲ | 91.1% |
| Bar Pass Rate | 93.0% ▲ | 87.4% |
Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle
How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.
| Cycle | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025 |
88%
|
8 |
| 2023-2024 |
100%
|
8 |
| 2021-2022 |
33%
|
6 |
| 2020-2021 |
67%
|
6 |
| 2008-2009 |
100%
|
7 |
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