Best Law Schools in New York City
5 ABA law schools call New York City home, ranked below by selectivity (Fall 2025 median LSAT). Where you go to law school shapes where you start your career: local alumni networks, clinics, and bar exam logistics all tilt local. Medians from ABA Standard 509 disclosures via ILRG, Fall 2025 entering class.
| School | Rank | Median LSAT | Median GPA | Est. annual tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia University | #5 | 173 | 3.92 | $85,368 |
| New York University | #11 | 172 | 3.92 | $83,952 |
| Fordham University | #29 | 168 | 3.79 | $78,078 |
| Cardozo-Yeshiva University | #44 | 165 | 3.78 | $74,438 |
| New York Law School | #109 | 157 | 3.63 | $71,052 |
How to judge the New York City market
- Bar exam logistics. You will likely take the bar where you study, at least at first. Make sure you want to start your career in NY.
- Alumni concentration. Ask each school where its recent graduates actually work. Local hiring partners recruit deepest at local schools.
- Cost vs. selectivity. The cheapest sticker here is New York Law School at about $71,052 a year. Weigh that against each school's selectivity and your aid prospects.
- Employment outcomes. We do not publish local employment data, so read each school's ABA-required employment summary: look for full-time, bar-passage-required jobs in the market you want.
What LSAT do you need here?
The most selective school in New York City reports a median LSAT of 173. Score at or above a school's median and you are competitive there; 1 to 3 points below is reach territory. What LSAT for Columbia University · What LSAT for New York University · What LSAT for Fordham University · What LSAT for Cardozo-Yeshiva University · What LSAT for New York Law School
All 12 city guides · Free LSAT prep
Medians from ABA Standard 509 disclosures via ILRG, Fall 2025 entering class. Tuition is the 2025-2026 sticker price. All cost figures are estimates, not guarantees.
Last updated October 12, 2026