Northwestern University vs Vanderbilt University

This page compares Northwestern University and Vanderbilt University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 42 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 42 applicants admitted to both schools, 93% chose to attend Northwestern 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: #10 and #14, separated by just 4 positions, making cross-admit data especially useful for deciding between them.

Northwestern University is located in Evanston, Illinois, while Vanderbilt University is in Nashville, Tennessee. 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: Northwestern University places 64.1% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 47.6% for the other school. This 16 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Vanderbilt University offered a median scholarship of $153,000 compared to $105,000, a difference of $48,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.