HEAD TO HEAD, ABA 509 DATA 2025
Columbia vs NYU Law School: Which Is Harder to Get Into, and Which Pays Off (2025)
$1,416. That's the entire tuition gap between Columbia ($85,368) and NYU ($83,952), close enough that neither school wins on sticker price alone. NYU discounts a much bigger share of its students, though, and Columbia answers with a biglaw placement rate nearly 13 points higher, 73.0% to 60.2%, the number that actually separates these two.
Combined, Columbia and NYU took in 20,009 applications in 2025. That volume is exactly why this comparison matters: run the numbers side by side before you build out your list. Then put your own LSAT and GPA through the calculator, so you know where you land against each school's 25th to 75th percentile band before you decide which one gets the early application.
Side by side
| Metric | Columbia | NYU |
|---|---|---|
| LSAT 25th | 169 | 169 |
| LSAT 50th | 173 | 172 |
| LSAT 75th | 175 | 174 |
| GPA 50th | 3.9 | 3.9 |
| Acceptance rate | 11.8% | 13.4% |
| Sticker tuition/yr | $85,368 | $83,952 |
| Gets some grant | 53.8% | 65.6% |
| Pays full sticker | 46.2% | 34.4% |
| FT/LT jobs | 97.9% | 97.7% |
| Biglaw (101+ firm) | 73% | 60.2% |
| Federal clerkships | 5.5% | 5% |
| Bar pass rate | 95.5% | 96.6% |
The verdict, 3 ways
Harder to get into
This one's close. Columbia's acceptance rate, 11.8%, sits within 2 points of NYU's 13.4%, and the median LSATs are within a point, 173 to 172. The tiebreaker is the 75th percentile: Columbia's is 175 against NYU's 174, a slim edge that makes Columbia the marginally harder admit.
Cheaper after aid
NYU. Its discount share is 65.6% against Columbia's 53.8%, and only 34.4% of its students pay full sticker versus 46.2% at Columbia. NYU's tuition is also a touch lower, $83,952 to Columbia's $85,368. Both schools charge close to the same price, but NYU spreads its aid further.
Better outcomes
Columbia, mainly on biglaw: 73.0% of its 2024 grads went to a large firm against 60.2% at NYU, a nearly 13-point gap. Full-time placement and federal clerkships are close, 97.9% to 97.7% and 5.5% to 5.0%. NYU's one clear lead is bar pass, 96.6% to 95.5%, but Columbia's biglaw margin is the bigger story.
Full data on each: Columbia and NYU. 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 Columbia or NYU harder to get into?
It's close. Columbia's acceptance rate, 11.8%, and NYU's, 13.4%, are within 2 points, and their median LSATs are within a point. Columbia's higher LSAT 75th percentile, 175 to 174, makes it the marginally harder admit.
Which is cheaper, Columbia or NYU?
NYU. Its discount share, 65.6%, beats Columbia's 53.8%, and its tuition, $83,952, is slightly below Columbia's $85,368. Fewer NYU students pay full sticker.
Which has better job outcomes, Columbia or NYU?
Columbia, driven by biglaw: 73.0% against NYU's 60.2%, a nearly 13-point gap. NYU edges Columbia only on bar pass, 96.6% to 95.5%.
Should I apply to both Columbia and NYU?
Yes. With near-identical acceptance rates and median LSATs within a point of each other, both schools are realistic for the same applicant, and the gap in biglaw placement is big enough that comparing real offers matters here.
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 2026-10-08.
