Head-to-head · 10 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 80% chose UMiami. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 10 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.
Cross-admit decision
Median scholarship (chose UMiami)
Median scholarship (chose Nova Southeastern)
View all-time (28 cross-admits)
Admissions
Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield 2025 ABA 509Financial
Sticker price, scholarships, and debt burden 2025 ABA 509Employment & outcomes
Post-graduation placement and bar passage 2024 ABA EmploymentOverview
About UMiami vs Nova Southeastern
Across 10 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 80% enrolled at University of Miami and 20% at Nova Southeastern 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.
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Detailed comparison narrative
This page compares University of Miami and Nova Southeastern University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.
There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: University of Miami has a median LSAT of 164 compared to 155, a gap of 9 points. This suggests applicants to University of Miami face a more competitive admissions pool.
University of Miami is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 24.6% compared to Nova Southeastern University's 47.3%.
Both schools are located in Florida — University of Miami in Coral Gables and Nova Southeastern University in Davie — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.
Employment outcomes differ substantially: University of Miami places 19.6% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 6.8% for the other school. This 13 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
On cost, Nova Southeastern University has lower tuition at $49,350 per year compared to $66,720. Combined with employment rates of 91.3% (UMiami) and 72.8% (Nova Southeastern), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Miami offered a median scholarship of $129,000 compared to $90,000, a difference of $39,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.