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Northwestern University vs New York University

Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes

Cross-Admit Decision Data

Of 85 applicants admitted to both schools:

18%
82%
Median scholarship: $120,000 Median scholarship: $82,500

Based on 85 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles

View all-time data (290 cross-admits)
25% chose NU 75% chose NYU

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.

Compare Another Pair

Northwestern University
vs
New York University

Admissions Comparison

2025 ABA 509

How 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 509

Tuition, 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 509

Post-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%

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