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Head-to-head · 17 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 88% chose NUSL. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 17 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.

17
cross-admits

Cross-admit decision

Of 17 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
Northeastern University logo Chose NUSL
88%
Chose New England New England Law | Boston logo
12%

Median scholarship (chose NUSL)

$82,500 / yr

Median scholarship (chose New England)

$170,000 / yr
View all-time (27 cross-admits)
89% chose NUSL 11% chose New England
Rank summary
NUSL
#63
LSD
USN #77
New England
#123
LSD
USN #168
LSD rank reflects where admitted applicants actually enroll. USN ranks come from US News.

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Northeastern University logo
NUSL
Boston, Massachusetts
New England Law | Boston logo
New England
Boston, Massachusetts
USN Rank
#77
#168
LSD Rank
Top 75 (0.005)
75+ (0.001)
LSAT 25th
161
149
LSAT Median
164
153
LSAT 75th
166
157
GPA Median
3.77
3.37
Acceptance Rate
24.2%
61.3%
Class Size
283
451
Yield Rate
20.4%
18.2%

Financial

Sticker price, scholarships, and debt burden
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Northeastern University logo
NUSL
Boston, Massachusetts
New England Law | Boston logo
New England
Boston, Massachusetts
Tuition (In-State)
$65,652
$62,896
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$65,652
$62,896
Median Grant
$31,000
$40,000
% Receiving Grants
95.0%
88.0%
Avg. Debt at Graduation
-
-

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2024 ABA Employment
Metric
Northeastern University logo
NUSL
Boston, Massachusetts
New England Law | Boston logo
New England
Boston, Massachusetts
BigLaw (501+)
19.6%
2.3%
Judicial Clerkships
6.1%
4.6%
Median Salary (Private)
-
$85,000
Employment Rate
91.1%
76.5%
Bar Pass Rate
87.4%
79.2%

Overview

About NUSL vs New England

Across 17 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 88% enrolled at Northeastern University and 12% at New England Law | Boston.

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 Northeastern University and New England Law | Boston across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.

In the U.S. News rankings, Northeastern University is ranked #77 compared to #168 — a gap of 91 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: Northeastern University has a median LSAT of 164 compared to 153, a gap of 11 points. This suggests applicants to Northeastern University face a more competitive admissions pool.

Northeastern University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 24.2% compared to New England Law | Boston's 61.3%.

Both schools are located in Massachusetts — Northeastern University in Boston and New England Law | Boston in Boston — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.

Employment outcomes differ substantially: Northeastern University places 19.6% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 2.3% for the other school. This 17 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

Among cross-admitted applicants, New England Law | Boston offered a median scholarship of $170,000 compared to $82,500, a difference of $87,500 that may factor into enrollment decisions.