Which has a higher LSAT median, New York University or University of Chicago?

University of Chicago has a higher median LSAT of 174, compared to 172. This is a difference of 2 points.

When admitted to both New York University and University of Chicago, which do students choose?

Of 88 applicants admitted to both schools, 67% chose University of Chicago. This is based on cross-admit decisions self-reported by LSD.Law users.

Which school has better BigLaw placement, New York University or University of Chicago?

New York University places 54.1% of graduates into large law firms (501+ attorneys), compared to 48.7% for the other school.

New York University vs University of Chicago

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

Cross-Admit Decision Data

Of 88 applicants admitted to both schools:

Chose NYU Chose UC

33%

67%

Median scholarship: $90,000 Median scholarship: $90,000

Based on 88 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles

View all-time data (399 cross-admits)

42% chose NYU 58% chose UC

399 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)

NYU is #8 · UC is #4 in the LSD rankings

See full LSD.Law school rankings →

About this comparison

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 88 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 88 applicants admitted to both schools, 67% 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 #3 compared to #8 — 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.

Compare Another Pair

Admissions Financial Employment Trends Related

Admissions Comparison

2025 ABA 509

How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.

Metric	NYU	UC
USN Rank	#8	#3 ▲
LSD Rank	#8 (1.509)	#4 (2.810) ▲
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 Comparison

2025 ABA 509

Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.

Metric	NYU	UC
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% ▲
Avg. Debt at Graduation	-	-

Employment Outcomes

2024 ABA 509

Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.

Metric	NYU	UC
BigLaw (501+)	54.1% ▲	48.7%
Judicial Clerkships	7.1%	28.6% ▲
Median Salary (Private)	-	$225,000
Employment Rate	92.9%	97.0% ▲
Bar Pass Rate	96.7%	97.4% ▲

Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle

How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.

NYU UC

Cycle	Split	Total
2024-2025	47% 53%	15
2023-2024	36% 64%	25
2022-2023	11% 89%	18
2021-2022	38% 62%	29
2020-2021	50% 50%	28
2019-2020	47% 53%	17
2018-2019	33% 67%	15
2017-2018	38% 62%	16
2016-2017	41% 59%	22
2015-2016	33% 67%	6
2014-2015	36% 64%	11
2013-2014	40% 60%	15
2012-2013	24% 76%	17
2011-2012	20% 80%	15
2010-2011	50% 50%	20
2009-2010	57% 43%	21
2008-2009	55% 45%	22
2007-2008	65% 35%	17
2006-2007	40% 60%	25
2005-2006	55% 45%	20
2004-2005	44% 56%	16
2003-2004	50% 50%	8