Head-to-head · 13 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 62% chose Syracuse. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 13 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
Chose Syracuse
Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025
per yearCross-admits who enrolled · self-reported, 3-yr award
View all-time (35 cross-admits)
Trend · Syracuse's share
Lowest cycle
Highest cycle
Admissions
Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield 2025 ABA 509
Financial
Sticker price and scholarship aid 2025 ABA 509
Employment & outcomes
Post-graduation placement and bar passage 2025 ABA Employment
Cross-admit by cycle
How preferences shifted over recent cyclesRelated comparisons
Other popular cross-admit matchups
Overview
About Syracuse vs Buffalo—SUNY
Across 13 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 62% enrolled at Syracuse University and 38% at University of Buffalo—SUNY. The split has shifted +40 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.
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Detailed comparison narrative
This page compares Syracuse University and University of Buffalo—SUNY across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.
In the U.S. News rankings, University of Buffalo—SUNY is ranked #82 compared to #100 — a gap of 18 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
Both schools are located in New York — Syracuse University in Syracuse and University of Buffalo—SUNY in Buffalo — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.
On cost, University of Buffalo—SUNY has lower tuition at $26,430 per year compared to $64,650. Combined with employment rates of 79.3% (Syracuse) and 94.9% (Buffalo—SUNY), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
Among cross-admitted applicants who enrolled, those choosing Syracuse University reported a higher median scholarship — $98,250 versus $37,500 over three years — though aid is one of several factors behind the enrollment decision.
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