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Head-to-head · 110 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 69% chose UC. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 110 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.

110
cross-admits
23
cycles
-28pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 110 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
New York University logo Chose NYU
31%
Chose UC University of Chicago logo
69%

Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025

per year
$20,000
66.0% get a grant
$63,952 net tuition
$15,000
78.0% get a grant
$68,316 net tuition

Cross-admits who enrolled · self-reported, 3-yr award

$105,000
n = 31
$72,000
n = 59
View all-time (419 cross-admits)
41% chose NYU 59% chose UC

Trend · NYU's share

2003–2025

Lowest cycle

11%

Highest cycle

65%
23 cycles
100 50 0 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 2003: 50% 2004: 44% 2005: 55% 2006: 40% 2007: 65% 2008: 55% 2009: 57% 2010: 50% 2011: 20% 2012: 24% 2013: 40% 2014: 36% 2015: 33% 2016: 41% 2017: 38% 2018: 33% 2019: 47% 2020: 50% 2021: 38% 2022: 11% 2023: 36% 2024: 47% 2025: 22%
NYU #8 · UC #4 LSD n≈18/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
New York University logo
NYU
New York City, New York
University of Chicago logo
UC
Chicago, Illinois
USN Rank
#7
#2
LSD Rank
#8 (1.387)
#4 (2.643)
LSAT 25th
169
171
LSAT Median
172
174
LSAT 75th
174
176
GPA Median
3.92
3.97
Acceptance Rate
13.4%
9.7%
Class Size
452
203
Yield Rate
30.4%
29.8%

Financial

Sticker price and scholarship aid
2025 ABA 509
Metric
New York University logo
NYU
New York City, New York
University of Chicago logo
UC
Chicago, Illinois
Tuition (In-State)
$83,952
$83,316
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$83,952
$83,316
Median Grant
$20,000
$15,000
% Receiving Grants
66.0%
78.0%

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2025 ABA Employment
Metric
New York University logo
NYU
New York City, New York
University of Chicago logo
UC
Chicago, Illinois
BigLaw (501+)
62.1%
59.7%
Federal Clerkships
5.5%
22.7%
State & Local Clerkships
2.2%
0.9%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
99.3%
98.1%
Bar Pass Rate
96.7%
97.4%

Overview

About NYU vs UC

Across 110 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 31% enrolled at New York University and 69% at University of Chicago. The split has shifted -28 points across the tracked cycles.

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.

Looking at a different matchup? Browse all comparisons or run a custom pair from the index.

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Detailed comparison narrative

This page compares New York University and University of Chicago across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 110 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 110 applicants admitted to both schools, 69% chose to attend University of Chicago. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of Chicago is ranked #2 compared to #7 — a gap of 5 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

New York University is located in New York City, New York, while University of Chicago is in Chicago, Illinois. 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 who enrolled, those choosing New York University reported a higher median scholarship — $105,000 versus $72,000 over three years — though aid is one of several factors behind the enrollment decision.