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Head-to-head · 24 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 75% chose St. John's. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 24 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.

24
cross-admits
4
cycles
-44pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 24 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
St. John's University logo Chose St. John's
75%
Chose NYLS New York Law School logo
25%

Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025

per year
$60,000
84.0% get a grant
$15,170 net tuition
$40,000
85.0% get a grant
$31,052 net tuition

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

$90,000
n = 13
$213,156
n = 6
View all-time (54 cross-admits)
82% chose St. John's 18% chose NYLS

Trend · St. John's's share

2006–2025

Lowest cycle

56%

Highest cycle

100%
4 cycles
100 50 0 06 07 24 25 2006: 100% 2007: 75% 2024: 88% 2025: 56%
St. John's #80 · NYLS #118 LSD n≈7/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
St. John's University logo
St. John's
Queens, New York
New York Law School logo
NYLS
New York City, New York
USN Rank
#62
#112
LSD Rank
75+ (0.003)
75+ (0.001)
LSAT 25th
156
154
LSAT Median
164
157
LSAT 75th
166
160
GPA Median
3.81
3.63
Acceptance Rate
23.1%
39.7%
Class Size
241
409
Yield Rate
23.4%
24.8%

Financial

Sticker price and scholarship aid
2025 ABA 509
Metric
St. John's University logo
St. John's
Queens, New York
New York Law School logo
NYLS
New York City, New York
Tuition (In-State)
$75,170
$71,052
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$75,170
$71,052
Median Grant
$60,000
$40,000
% Receiving Grants
84.0%
85.0%

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2025 ABA Employment
Metric
St. John's University logo
St. John's
Queens, New York
New York Law School logo
NYLS
New York City, New York
BigLaw (501+)
22.9%
10.9%
Federal Clerkships
3.2%
1.0%
State & Local Clerkships
2.4%
6.7%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
93.6%
88.8%
Bar Pass Rate
87.7%
81.9%

Overview

About St. John's vs NYLS

Across 24 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 75% enrolled at St. John's University and 25% at New York Law School. The split has shifted -44 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 St. John's University and New York Law School across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 24 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 24 applicants admitted to both schools, 75% chose to attend St. John's University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, St. John's University is ranked #62 compared to #112 — a gap of 50 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 New York Law School's 39.7%.

Both schools are located in New York — St. John's University in Queens and New York Law School in New York City — 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 10.9% for the other school. This 12 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

Among cross-admitted applicants who enrolled, those choosing New York Law School reported a higher median scholarship — $213,156 versus $90,000 over three years — though aid is one of several factors behind the enrollment decision.