Fordham University vs University of Southern California

This page compares Fordham University and University of Southern California across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 22 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 22 applicants admitted to both schools, 91% chose to attend University of Southern California. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of Southern California is ranked #26 compared to #38 — a gap of 12 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

Fordham University is located in Bronx, New York, while University of Southern California is in Los Angeles, California. 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: University of Southern California places 56.6% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 42.2% for the other school. This 14 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, Fordham University has lower tuition at $78,078 per year compared to $84,034. Combined with employment rates of 94.9% (Fordham) and 95.5% (USC), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.