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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
University of Chicago logo Chose UC
69%
Chose NYU New York University logo
31%

Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025

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

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

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

Trend · UC's share

2003–2025

Lowest cycle

35%

Highest cycle

89%
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: 56% 2005: 45% 2006: 60% 2007: 35% 2008: 45% 2009: 43% 2010: 50% 2011: 80% 2012: 76% 2013: 60% 2014: 64% 2015: 67% 2016: 59% 2017: 63% 2018: 67% 2019: 53% 2020: 50% 2021: 62% 2022: 89% 2023: 64% 2024: 53% 2025: 78%
UC #4 · NYU #8 LSD n≈18/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
University of Chicago logo
UC
Chicago, Illinois
New York University logo
NYU
New York City, New York
USN Rank
#2
#7
LSD Rank
#4 (2.502)
#8 (1.250)
LSAT 25th
171
169
LSAT Median
174
172
LSAT 75th
176
174
GPA Median
3.97
3.92
Acceptance Rate
9.7%
13.4%
Class Size
203
452
Yield Rate
29.8%
30.4%

Financial

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

Employment & outcomes

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

Overview

About UC vs NYU

Across 110 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 69% enrolled at University of Chicago and 31% at New York University. 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 University of Chicago and New York University 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.

University of Chicago is located in Chicago, 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 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.