Head-to-head · 16 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 63% chose Fordham. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 16 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.
Cross-admit decision
Chose Fordham
Median scholarship (chose Fordham)
Median scholarship (chose 'Nova)
View all-time (36 cross-admits)
Admissions
Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield 2025 ABA 509
Financial
Sticker price, scholarships, and debt burden 2025 ABA 509
Employment & outcomes
Post-graduation placement and bar passage 2024 ABA Employment
Cross-admit by cycle
How preferences shifted over recent cyclesRelated comparisons
Other popular cross-admit matchups
Overview
About Fordham vs 'Nova
Across 16 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 63% enrolled at Fordham University and 37% at Villanova University.
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.
Compare another pair
Detailed comparison narrative
This page compares Fordham University and Villanova University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.
In the U.S. News rankings, Fordham University is ranked #42 compared to #49 — a gap of 7 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 significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 16.2% compared to Villanova University's 25.9%.
Fordham University is located in Bronx, New York, while Villanova University is in Villanova, Pennsylvania. 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 20.1% for the other school. This 22 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
On cost, Villanova University has lower tuition at $59,800 per year compared to $78,078. Combined with employment rates of 94.9% (Fordham) and 92.5% ('Nova), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
Among cross-admitted applicants, Villanova University offered a median scholarship of $142,000 compared to $105,000, a difference of $37,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.