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Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
View all-time data (290 cross-admits)
290 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
NU is #12 · NYU is #8 in the LSD rankings
See full LSD.Law school rankings →About this comparison
This page compares Northwestern University and New York University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 85 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 85 applicants admitted to both schools, 82% chose to attend New York University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.
Both schools are closely ranked in U.S. News: #8 and #10, separated by just 2 positions, making cross-admit data especially useful for deciding between them.
Northwestern University is located in Evanston, Illinois, 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.
Among cross-admitted applicants, Northwestern University offered a median scholarship of $120,000 compared to $82,500, a difference of $37,500 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 | NU | NYU |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #10 | #8 ▲ |
| LSD Rank | #12 (0.471) | #8 (1.509) ▲ |
| LSAT 25th | 167 | 169 ▲ |
| LSAT Median | 173 ▲ | 172 |
| LSAT 75th | 175 ▲ | 174 |
| GPA Median | 3.96 ▲ | 3.92 |
| Acceptance Rate | 12.3% ▲ | 13.4% |
| Class Size | 250 | 452 |
| Yield Rate | 25.0% | 30.4% ▲ |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | NU | NYU |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $79,772 ▲ | $83,952 |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | $79,722 ▲ | $83,952 |
| Median Grant | $40,000 ▲ | $20,000 |
| % Receiving Grants | 76.0% ▲ | 66.0% |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | NU | NYU |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 64.1% ▲ | 54.1% |
| Judicial Clerkships | 7.4% ▲ | 7.1% |
| Median Salary (Private) | - | - |
| Employment Rate | 95.6% ▲ | 92.9% |
| Bar Pass Rate | 91.8% | 96.7% ▲ |
Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle
How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.
| Cycle | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025 |
33%
|
18 |
| 2023-2024 |
27%
|
15 |
| 2022-2023 |
9%
|
11 |
| 2021-2022 |
13%
|
16 |
| 2020-2021 |
8%
|
25 |
| 2019-2020 |
21%
|
14 |
| 2018-2019 |
29%
|
14 |
| 2017-2018 |
38%
|
13 |
| 2016-2017 |
21%
|
14 |
| 2015-2016 |
63%
|
8 |
| 2014-2015 |
55%
|
11 |
| 2013-2014 |
36%
|
11 |
| 2012-2013 |
33%
|
15 |
| 2011-2012 |
14%
|
7 |
| 2010-2011 |
16%
|
19 |
| 2009-2010 |
18%
|
11 |
| 2008-2009 |
28%
|
18 |
| 2007-2008 |
13%
|
16 |
| 2006-2007 |
31%
|
13 |
| 2005-2006 |
33%
|
12 |
| 2003-2004 |
17%
|
6 |
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