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Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
Cross-Admit Decision Data
Of 25 applicants admitted to both schools:
Based on 25 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles
View all-time data (57 cross-admits)
57 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
Fordham is #24 · UCBerkeley is #10 in the LSD rankings
See full LSD.Law school rankings →About this comparison
This page compares Fordham University and University of California—Berkeley across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 25 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 25 applicants admitted to both schools, 96% chose to attend University of California—Berkeley. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.
In the U.S. News rankings, University of California—Berkeley is ranked #13 compared to #38 — a gap of 25 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
Fordham University is located in Bronx, New York, while University of California—Berkeley is in Berkeley, California. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.
On cost, University of California—Berkeley has lower tuition at $62,532 per year compared to $78,078. Combined with employment rates of 94.9% (Fordham) and 93.6% (UCBerkeley), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
Among cross-admitted applicants, Fordham University offered a median scholarship of $127,500 compared to $75,000, a difference of $52,500 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 | Fordham | UCBerkeley |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #38 | #13 ▲ |
| LSD Rank | #24 (0.033) | #10 (0.944) ▲ |
| LSAT 25th | 165 | 167 ▲ |
| LSAT Median | 168 | 170 ▲ |
| LSAT 75th | 170 | 172 ▲ |
| GPA Median | 3.79 | 3.92 ▲ |
| Acceptance Rate | 16.2% | 14.8% ▲ |
| Class Size | 444 | 374 |
| Yield Rate | 30.3% | 35.7% ▲ |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | Fordham | UCBerkeley |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $78,078 | $62,532 ▲ |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | $78,078 | $76,149 ▲ |
| Median Grant | $35,000 ▲ | $31,158 |
| % Receiving Grants | 87.0% ▲ | 86.0% |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | Fordham | UCBerkeley |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 42.2% | 52.2% ▲ |
| Judicial Clerkships | 4.8% | 12.5% ▲ |
| Median Salary (Private) | $215,000 | - |
| Employment Rate | 94.9% ▲ | 93.6% |
| Bar Pass Rate | 93.0% ▲ | 91.2% |
Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle
How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.
| Cycle | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025 |
0%
|
9 |
| 2023-2024 |
0%
|
8 |
| 2020-2021 |
0%
|
5 |
| 2005-2006 |
0%
|
5 |
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