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Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
Cross-Admit Decision Data
Of 31 applicants admitted to both schools:
Based on 31 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles
View all-time data (59 cross-admits)
59 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
NUSL is Top 75 · Suffolk University is 150+ in the LSD rankings
See full LSD.Law school rankings →About this comparison
This page compares Northeastern University and Suffolk University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 31 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 31 applicants admitted to both schools, 87% chose to attend Northeastern University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.
In the U.S. News rankings, Northeastern University is ranked #68 compared to #127 — a gap of 59 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 155, a gap of 9 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 Suffolk University's 61.9%.
Both schools are located in Massachusetts — Northeastern University in Boston and Suffolk University in Boston — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.
Among cross-admitted applicants, Suffolk University offered a median scholarship of $102,000 compared to $75,000, a difference of $27,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.
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Admissions Comparison
2025 ABA 509How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.
| Metric | NUSL | Suffolk University |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #68 ▲ | #127 |
| LSD Rank | Top 75 (0.007) ▲ | 150+ (0.001) |
| LSAT 25th | 161 ▲ | 152 |
| LSAT Median | 164 ▲ | 155 |
| LSAT 75th | 166 ▲ | 159 |
| GPA Median | 3.77 ▲ | 3.58 |
| Acceptance Rate | 24.2% ▲ | 61.9% |
| Class Size | 283 | 544 |
| Yield Rate | 20.4% | 25.1% ▲ |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | NUSL | Suffolk University |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $65,652 | $62,610 ▲ |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | $65,652 | $62,610 ▲ |
| Median Grant | $31,000 ▲ | $22,445 |
| % Receiving Grants | 95.0% ▲ | 81.0% |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | NUSL | Suffolk University |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 19.6% ▲ | 12.2% |
| Judicial Clerkships | 6.1% ▲ | 3.2% |
| Median Salary (Private) | - | $100,000 |
| Employment Rate | 91.1% ▲ | 87.1% |
| Bar Pass Rate | 87.4% ▲ | 79.4% |
Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle
How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.
| Cycle | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025 |
100%
|
8 |
| 2022-2023 |
78%
|
9 |
| 2021-2022 |
89%
|
9 |
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