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Head-to-head · 28 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 86% chose ND. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 28 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.

28
cross-admits
2
cycles
-3pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 28 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
Fordham University logo Chose Fordham
14%
Chose ND University of Notre Dame logo
86%

Median scholarship (chose Fordham)

$127,500 / yr

Median scholarship (chose ND)

$105,000 / yr
View all-time (52 cross-admits)
21% chose Fordham 79% chose ND

Trend · Fordham's share

2020–2022

Lowest cycle

10%

Highest cycle

13%
2 cycles
100 50 0 20 22 2020: 13% 2022: 10%
Fordham #24 · ND #17 LSD n≈9/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Fordham University logo
Fordham
Bronx, New York
University of Notre Dame logo
ND
South Bend, Indiana
USN Rank
#42
#20
LSD Rank
#24 (0.027)
#17 (0.099)
LSAT 25th
165
166
LSAT Median
168
170
LSAT 75th
170
171
GPA Median
3.79
3.89
Acceptance Rate
16.2%
16.1%
Class Size
444
185
Yield Rate
30.3%
31.6%

Financial

Sticker price and scholarship aid
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Fordham University logo
Fordham
Bronx, New York
University of Notre Dame logo
ND
South Bend, Indiana
Tuition (In-State)
$78,078
$73,430
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$78,078
$73,430
Median Grant
$35,000
$30,000
% Receiving Grants
87.0%
92.0%

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2025 ABA Employment
Metric
Fordham University logo
Fordham
Bronx, New York
University of Notre Dame logo
ND
South Bend, Indiana
BigLaw (501+)
44.8%
30.5%
Federal Clerkships
3.1%
17.1%
State & Local Clerkships
3.3%
6.7%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
90.2%
95.1%
Bar Pass Rate
93.0%
92.2%

Overview

About Fordham vs ND

Across 28 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 14% enrolled at Fordham University and 86% at University of Notre Dame. The split has shifted -3 points across the tracked cycles.

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.

Looking at a different matchup? Browse all comparisons or run a custom pair from the index.

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Detailed comparison narrative

This page compares Fordham University and University of Notre Dame across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 28 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 28 applicants admitted to both schools, 86% chose to attend University of Notre Dame. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of Notre Dame is ranked #20 compared to #42 — a gap of 22 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

Fordham University is located in Bronx, New York, while University of Notre Dame is in South Bend, Indiana. 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 44.8% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 30.5% for the other school. This 14 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Fordham University offered a median scholarship of $127,500 compared to $105,000, a difference of $22,500 that may factor into enrollment decisions.