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Head-to-head · 16 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 87% chose NUSL. 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

Cross-admit decision

Of 16 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
New England Law | Boston logo Chose New England
13%
Chose NUSL Northeastern University logo
87%

Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025

per year
$40,000
88.0% get a grant
$22,896 net tuition
$31,000
95.0% get a grant
$34,652 net tuition

Cross-admits who enrolled · self-reported, 3-yr award

n < 5
$64,500
n = 14
View all-time (26 cross-admits)
12% chose New England 88% chose NUSL
Rank summary
New England
#123
LSD
USN #168
NUSL
#63
LSD
USN #77
LSD rank reflects where admitted applicants actually enroll. USN ranks come from US News.

Admissions

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

Financial

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

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2025 ABA Employment
Metric
New England Law | Boston logo
New England
Boston, Massachusetts
Northeastern University logo
NUSL
Boston, Massachusetts
BigLaw (501+)
1.5%
16.4%
Federal Clerkships
0.3%
2.3%
State & Local Clerkships
5.2%
5.6%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
71.9%
87.8%
Bar Pass Rate
79.2%
87.4%

Overview

About New England vs NUSL

Across 16 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 13% enrolled at New England Law | Boston and 87% at Northeastern 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.

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Detailed comparison narrative

This page compares New England Law | Boston and Northeastern University 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 — New England Law | Boston in Boston and Northeastern University in Boston — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.

Employment outcomes differ substantially: Northeastern University places 16.4% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 1.5% for the other school. This 15 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.