Fordham University vs New York University

This page compares Fordham University and New York University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 62 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 62 applicants admitted to both schools, 100% chose to attend New York University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, New York University is ranked #8 compared to #38 — 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: New York University has a median LSAT of 172 compared to 168, a gap of 4 points. This suggests applicants to New York University face a more competitive admissions pool.

Both schools are located in New York — Fordham University in Bronx and New York University in New York City — 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 42.2% for the other school. This 12 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, Fordham University has lower tuition at $78,078 per year compared to $83,952. Combined with employment rates of 94.9% (Fordham) and 92.9% (NYU), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Fordham University offered a median scholarship of $135,000 compared to $60,000, a difference of $75,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.