Head-to-head · 12 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 83% chose St. John's. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 12 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.
Cross-admit decision
Median scholarship (chose St. John's)
Median scholarship (chose Pace University)
View all-time (21 cross-admits)
Admissions
Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield 2025 ABA 509Financial
Sticker price, scholarships, and debt burden 2025 ABA 509Employment & outcomes
Post-graduation placement and bar passage 2024 ABA EmploymentCross-admit by cycle
How preferences shifted over recent cyclesOverview
About St. John's vs Pace University
Across 12 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 83% enrolled at St. John's University and 17% at Pace University.
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.
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Detailed comparison narrative
This page compares St. John's University and Pace University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.
In the U.S. News rankings, St. John's University is ranked #62 compared to #142 — a gap of 80 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: St. John's University has a median LSAT of 164 compared to 154, a gap of 10 points. This suggests applicants to St. John's University face a more competitive admissions pool.
St. John's University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 23.1% compared to Pace University's 44.1%.
Both schools are located in New York — St. John's University in Queens and Pace University in White Plains — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.
On cost, Pace University has lower tuition at $56,648 per year compared to $75,170. Combined with employment rates of 92.5% (St. John's) and 89.7% (Pace University), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
Among cross-admitted applicants, Pace University offered a median scholarship of $123,750 compared to $82,500, a difference of $41,250 that may factor into enrollment decisions.