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New York University vs Vanderbilt University

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

Cross-Admit Decision Data

Of 49 applicants admitted to both schools:

96%
4%
Median scholarship: $75,000 Median scholarship: $114,750

Based on 49 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles

View all-time data (160 cross-admits)
96% chose NYU 4% chose Vandy

160 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)

NYU is #8 · Vandy is #20 in the LSD rankings

See full LSD.Law school rankings →
About this comparison

This page compares New York University and Vanderbilt University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 49 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 49 applicants admitted to both schools, 96% chose to attend New York University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, New York University is ranked #8 compared to #14 — a gap of 6 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 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.

On cost, Vanderbilt University has lower tuition at $76,440 per year compared to $83,952. Combined with employment rates of 92.9% (NYU) and 94.6% (Vandy), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Vanderbilt University offered a median scholarship of $114,750 compared to $75,000, a difference of $39,750 that may factor into enrollment decisions.

Compare Another Pair

New York University
vs
Vanderbilt University

Admissions Comparison

2025 ABA 509

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

Metric NYU Vandy
USN Rank #8 #14
LSD Rank #8 (1.509) #20 (0.085)
LSAT 25th 169 167
LSAT Median 172 170
LSAT 75th 174 171
GPA Median 3.92 3.91
Acceptance Rate 13.4% 13.3%
Class Size 452 172
Yield Rate 30.4% 20.9%

Financial Comparison

2025 ABA 509

Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.

Metric NYU Vandy
Tuition (In-State) $83,952 $76,440
Tuition (Out-of-State) $83,952 $76,440
Median Grant $20,000 $32,792
% Receiving Grants 66.0% 90.0%
Avg. Debt at Graduation - -

Employment Outcomes

2024 ABA 509

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

Metric NYU Vandy
BigLaw (501+) 54.1% 47.6%
Judicial Clerkships 7.1% 11.4%
Median Salary (Private) - $215,000
Employment Rate 92.9% 94.6%
Bar Pass Rate 96.7% 94.5%

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