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Head-to-head · 23 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 100% chose NYU. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 23 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.

23
cross-admits
3
cycles
+0pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 23 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
Northeastern University logo Chose NUSL
0%
Chose NYU New York University logo
100%

Median scholarship (chose NUSL)

$181,224 / yr

Median scholarship (chose NYU)

$120,000 / yr
View all-time (32 cross-admits)
0% chose NUSL 100% chose NYU

Trend · NUSL's share

2023–2025
0%
every cycle (3)
100 50 0 23 24 25 2023: 0% 2024: 0% 2025: 0%
NUSL #63 · NYU #8 LSD n≈6/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Northeastern University logo
NUSL
Boston, Massachusetts
New York University logo
NYU
New York City, New York
USN Rank
#77
#7
LSD Rank
Top 75 (0.005)
#8 (1.387)
LSAT 25th
161
169
LSAT Median
164
172
LSAT 75th
166
174
GPA Median
3.77
3.92
Acceptance Rate
24.2%
13.4%
Class Size
283
452
Yield Rate
20.4%
30.4%

Financial

Sticker price and scholarship aid
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Northeastern University logo
NUSL
Boston, Massachusetts
New York University logo
NYU
New York City, New York
Tuition (In-State)
$65,652
$83,952
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$65,652
$83,952
Median Grant
$31,000
$20,000
% Receiving Grants
95.0%
66.0%

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2025 ABA Employment
Metric
Northeastern University logo
NUSL
Boston, Massachusetts
New York University logo
NYU
New York City, New York
BigLaw (501+)
16.4%
62.1%
Federal Clerkships
2.3%
5.5%
State & Local Clerkships
5.6%
2.2%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
87.8%
99.3%
Bar Pass Rate
87.4%
96.7%

Overview

About NUSL vs NYU

Across 23 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 0% enrolled at Northeastern University and 100% at New York 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 Northeastern University and New York University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 23 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 23 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 62.1% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 16.4% for the other school. This 46 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 87.8% (NUSL) and 99.3% (NYU), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Northeastern University offered a median scholarship of $181,224 compared to $120,000, a difference of $61,224 that may factor into enrollment decisions.