Head-to-head · 26 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 89% chose Temple University. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 26 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 Temple University)
Median scholarship (chose Rutgers University)
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Trend · Temple University's share
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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 Temple University vs Rutgers University
Across 26 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 89% enrolled at Temple University and 11% at Rutgers 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 Temple University and Rutgers University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 26 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 26 applicants admitted to both schools, 89% chose to attend Temple University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.
In the U.S. News rankings, Temple University is ranked #49 compared to #100 — a gap of 51 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: Temple University has a median LSAT of 165 compared to 158, a gap of 7 points. This suggests applicants to Temple University face a more competitive admissions pool.
Temple University is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, while Rutgers University is in Camden, New Jersey. 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: Temple University places 18.2% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 7.3% for the other school. This 11 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
Among cross-admitted applicants, Temple University offered a median scholarship of $100,005 compared to $90,000, a difference of $10,005 that may factor into enrollment decisions.