Northeastern University vs New York University

This page compares Northeastern University and New York University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 20 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 20 applicants admitted to both schools, 100% chose to attend New York University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, New York University is ranked #7 compared to #77 — a gap of 70 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: New York University has a median LSAT of 172 compared to 164, a gap of 8 points. This suggests applicants to New York University face a more competitive admissions pool.

New York University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 13.4% compared to Northeastern University's 24.2%.

Northeastern University is located in Boston, Massachusetts, while New York University is in New York City, New York. 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: New York University places 54.1% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 19.6% for the other school. This 35 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, Northeastern University has lower tuition at $65,652 per year compared to $83,952. Combined with employment rates of 91.1% (NUSL) and 92.9% (NYU), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, New York University offered a median scholarship of $211,200 compared to $181,224, a difference of $29,976 that may factor into enrollment decisions.