Inside scoop
Ethan Madore
Located a four-hour drive from NYC in scenic but brooding Ithaca, Cornell Law is one of those “always a bridesmaid, never a bride” members of the traditional T14. It attracts thousands of applicants interested in jobs at top NY firms, but it isn’t actually close to those firms. And yet for some, that’s an advantage. Cornell offers much more of a close-knit ‘campus experience’ than Columbia or NYU, while maintaining a network laser-focused at positioning graduates for Big Law. Like Duke, its southern cousin, Cornell balances being relentlessly pre-professional with meaningful nods to public interest work and legal theory.
Admissions stats
LSAT vs GPA
Based on 2025 data from ABA
Projected from 7Sage applicants
Based on 2025 data from ABA
Your chances
Trends
Based on data from ABA
Based on data from US News and World Report
Based on data from ABA
Based on data from ABA
Why Cornell
Ethan Madore
There are really three reasons why you’d want to go to Cornell:
- You want to build a robust legal career in New York, but want to study law in a calmer, more idyllic environment with a bit more of an undergrad-y college life feel.
- You’re an international applicant who’s heard about how Cornell tends to be much more international-friendly in the admissions process than other schools (for example, there is a large and vibrant Korean community at Cornell Law)
- You want to go to a T14 in the Northeast, but, all things being equal, you would rather go to NYU or Columbia so you could live in the city.
All three are valid reasons for applying to Cornell, though expect a chilly reception from the admissions office if they suspect you’re in that last group.
Apart from that, Cornell does have a stand-out immigration clinic they’re proud of, which may be an obvious connection for you, based on your narrative.
Employment
Based on 2024 data from ABA
Based on 2024 data from ABA
Tuition & costs
Demographics
Out of 600 students in 2024, 47% were women, and 60% were racial or ethnic minorities.
Based on 2024 data from ABA
Yes, admission to Cornell is highly competitive. For the 2025 application cycle, the Cornell acceptance rate was 18.19%.
To be a competitive applicant at Cornell, you should aim for an LSAT score around the median of 173 and a GPA of 3.92. The middle 50% of accepted students scored between 168 and 175 on the LSAT.
For the 2025 academic year, Cornell tuition is $84,722 for full-time students. When factoring in the cost of living and additional fees, the total estimated cost of attendance is $118,364 per year.
Yes, Cornell is a highly regarded institution. It is currently ranked #13 in the U.S. News & World Report Best Law Schools rankings for 2026.