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Head-to-head · 16 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 81% chose St. John's. 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.

16
cross-admits
6
cycles
-9pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 16 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
Hofstra University logo Chose Hofstra University
19%
Chose St. John's St. John's University logo
81%

Median scholarship (chose Hofstra University)

$206,580 / yr

Median scholarship (chose St. John's)

$180,000 / yr
View all-time (66 cross-admits)
26% chose Hofstra University 74% chose St. John's

Trend · Hofstra University's share

2004–2025

Lowest cycle

0%

Highest cycle

40%
6 cycles
100 50 0 04 05 06 07 24 25 2004: 29% 2005: 40% 2006: 0% 2007: 20% 2024: 20% 2025: 20%
Hofstra University #123 · St. John's #89 LSD n≈6/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Hofstra University logo
Hofstra University
Hempstead, New York
St. John's University logo
St. John's
Queens, New York
USN Rank
#117
#62
LSD Rank
75+ (0.001)
75+ (0.003)
LSAT 25th
154
156
LSAT Median
157
164
LSAT 75th
160
166
GPA Median
3.65
3.81
Acceptance Rate
40.6%
23.1%
Class Size
263
241
Yield Rate
26.2%
23.4%

Financial

Sticker price and scholarship aid
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Hofstra University logo
Hofstra University
Hempstead, New York
St. John's University logo
St. John's
Queens, New York
Tuition (In-State)
$73,344
$75,170
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$73,344
$75,170
Median Grant
$35,793
$60,000
% Receiving Grants
84.0%
84.0%

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2025 ABA Employment
Metric
Hofstra University logo
Hofstra University
Hempstead, New York
St. John's University logo
St. John's
Queens, New York
BigLaw (501+)
10.3%
22.9%
Judicial Clerkships
8.0%
5.6%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
90.5%
93.6%
Bar Pass Rate
78.9%
87.7%

Overview

About Hofstra University vs St. John's

Across 16 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 19% enrolled at Hofstra University and 81% at St. John's University. The split has shifted -9 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 Hofstra University and St. John's University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.

In the U.S. News rankings, St. John's University is ranked #62 compared to #117 — a gap of 55 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: St. John's University has a median LSAT of 164 compared to 157, a gap of 7 points. This suggests applicants to St. John's University face a more competitive admissions pool.

St. John's University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 23.1% compared to Hofstra University's 40.6%.

Both schools are located in New York — Hofstra University in Hempstead and St. John's University in Queens — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.

Employment outcomes differ substantially: St. John's University places 22.9% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 10.3% for the other school. This 13 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Hofstra University offered a median scholarship of $206,580 compared to $180,000, a difference of $26,580 that may factor into enrollment decisions.