HEAD TO HEAD, ABA 509 DATA 2025
Boston College vs Fordham Law School: Which Is Harder to Get Into, and Which Pays Off (2025)
Boston College is the harder admit between these two, plain and simple: an 8.5% acceptance rate against Fordham's 16.2%, even though Fordham's LSAT range runs a touch higher at the 25th and 75th percentiles (both schools tie at a 168 median). BC also comes out ahead on cost and bar passage, 95.9% against Fordham's 87.8%.
Boston College and Fordham sit close enough on paper that the tiebreaker usually comes down to money and job outcomes, not admissions odds alone. Treat this page as the numbers you'd want in front of you before you commit a deposit to either one, and check them against the calculator before you write off either school as a reach or a safety.
Side by side
| Metric | Boston College | Fordham |
|---|---|---|
| LSAT 25th | 162 | 165 |
| LSAT 50th | 168 | 168 |
| LSAT 75th | 169 | 170 |
| GPA 50th | 3.8 | 3.8 |
| Acceptance rate | 8.5% | 16.2% |
| Sticker tuition/yr | $72,380 | $78,078 |
| Gets some grant | 89.1% | 87% |
| Pays full sticker | 10.9% | 13% |
| FT/LT jobs | 96.5% | 94.3% |
| Biglaw (101+ firm) | 57.2% | 54.9% |
| Federal clerkships | 4.1% | 3.3% |
| Bar pass rate | 95.9% | 87.8% |
The verdict, 3 ways
Harder to get into
Boston College accepts 8.5% of applicants, Fordham 16.2%, a 7.7-point gap that isn't close. Fordham's LSAT band actually runs a hair higher, 165 to 170 versus BC's 162 to 169, but BC's acceptance rate makes it the clearly harder school to get into.
Cheaper after aid
Boston College's sticker is $72,380 against Fordham's $78,078, and BC discounts more broadly too, 89.1% of students versus 87% at Fordham. Fewer BC students pay full price, 10.9% to 13%. BC wins on cost by every measure filed here.
Better outcomes
Boston College's 2024 grads beat Fordham's across the board: 96.5% FT/LT placement to 94.3%, 57.2% into biglaw to 54.9%, and a bar passage rate of 95.9% against Fordham's 87.8%, an 8.1-point gap. BC is the clear outcomes winner.
Full data on each: Boston College and Fordham. Run your own numbers through the LSAT Unplugged law school chances calculator. See what 1 extra LSAT point is worth in grants at both schools.
FAQ
Is Boston College or Fordham harder to get into?
Boston College. It accepts 8.5% of applicants against Fordham's 16.2%, even though Fordham's LSAT band runs slightly higher at the 25th and 75th percentiles.
Which is cheaper, Boston College or Fordham?
Boston College. Sticker tuition is $72,380 against Fordham's $78,078, and BC discounts a bigger share of its students, 89.1% to 87%, with fewer full-price payers, 10.9% versus 13%.
Which has better job outcomes, Boston College or Fordham?
Boston College. Its 2024 grads posted higher numbers everywhere that's filed: 96.5% FT/LT placement, 57.2% into biglaw, and a 95.9% bar passage rate against Fordham's 87.8%.
Should I apply to both Boston College and Fordham?
Yes, especially if your LSAT sits in the 165 to 169 range. That band clears Fordham's 25th percentile and lands inside BC's middle 50%, so Fordham works as a realistic target while BC is the reach worth taking a shot at.
Source: ABA Standard 509 Information Reports, 2025, via LSAT Unplugged's 509 master. Verify against each school's own filing before relying on it. Last updated 2026-10-09.
