New York University vs Washington University in St. Louis

This page compares New York University and Washington University in St. Louis across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 42 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 42 applicants admitted to both schools, 95% 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 Washington University in St. Louis is in St. Louis, Missouri. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.

Employment outcomes differ substantially: New York University places 54.1% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 39.3% for the other school. This 15 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, Washington University in St. Louis has lower tuition at $72,792 per year compared to $83,952. Combined with employment rates of 92.9% (NYU) and 96.8% (WUSTL), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Washington University in St. Louis offered a median scholarship of $182,875 compared to $91,000, a difference of $91,875 that may factor into enrollment decisions.