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Harvard University vs Northwestern University
Harvard University Law School · Cambridge, MA | Northwestern University Law School · Chicago, IL
This pairing is listed because these two schools are both T14 — the circumstances in which one school is a realistic alternative to the other.
Side by side
All figures from the 2025 ABA 509 reporting cycle. Bold marks the stronger figure on each row where a direction exists.
| Measure | Harvard University | Northwestern University | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acceptance rate | 9.20% | 12.30% | −3.1 |
| Median LSAT | 174 | 173 | +1 |
| Median GPA | 3.96 | 3.96 | identical |
| Annual tuition | $77,100 | $79,772 | −2,672 |
| 3-year total cost | $352,146 | $326,559 | +25,587 |
| Median grant / year | $27,510 | $40,000 | −12,490 |
| Net tuition after grant | not reported | not reported | — |
| First-year class size | 579 | 250 | +329 |
| Offer yield | not reported | not reported | — |
| Class fill | 83.4% | 98.0% | −14.6 |
| Bar pass (1st time) | 97.9% | 91.8% | +6.1 |
Bold is not a recommendation. On cost and acceptance it marks the lower number; on grant aid and bar passage the higher one. Where no direction applies — median LSAT, GPA and class size — nothing is bolded, because a higher median LSAT is not obviously better than a lower one for a given applicant.
Where the two differ most
Ranked by the size of the gap relative to Northwestern University's figure. These are the differences most likely to change a decision.
| Measure | Harvard University | Northwestern University | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-year class size | 579 | 250 | +329 |
| Median grant / year | $27,510 | $40,000 | −12,490in dollars |
| Acceptance rate | 9.20% | 12.30% | −3.1percentage points |
| 3-year total cost | $352,146 | $326,559 | +25,587in dollars |
Cost compared
Both schools report tuition, mandatory fees and living costs, so a full three-year figure can be computed for each. This is the comparison that tuition-only rankings cannot make.
| Component (per year) | Harvard University | Northwestern University |
|---|---|---|
| Annual tuition | $77,100 | $79,772 |
| 3-year total cost | $352,146 | $326,559 |
| Median grant / year | $27,510 | $40,000 |
| Net tuition after median grant | — | — |
Net tuition subtracts the median grant from annual tuition. It is an optimistic floor: the median covers only students who received aid, and it assumes the same award holds for all three years. See the full cost ranking for every school.
Outcomes compared
| Measure | Harvard University | Northwestern University |
|---|---|---|
| First-time bar passage | 97.9% | 91.8% |
| Offer yield | 59.2% | 25.0% |
| Class fill | 83.4% | 98.0% |
| Students enrolled | 483 | 245 |
| First-year class size | 579 | 250 |
The national median offer yield is 31.6%. Offer yield measures how many admitted students chose each school; class fill measures whether the class was filled. A low yield is common and usually reflects a wide offer policy rather than a school students avoid.
Choosing between them
- There is no better school here, only a different one. These figures describe cohort averages. Where your own profile falls relative to a school's admitted range matters more than any published median.
- Cost is a family question, not a ranking. The three-year figure covers tuition, fees and published living costs. It does not include books, a laptop, travel home, or the income lost to three years of not working.
- Grant figures are history, not offers. Both medians describe past cohorts. Your award depends on your circumstances, the school's policy and its aid budget that year.
- Bar passage is heavily shaped by selectivity. A school that admits broadly and passes fewer of its own admittees is not necessarily providing a weaker education; the comparison is confounded by who each school chooses.
Full details on each school
| Harvard University | Northwestern University | |
|---|---|---|
| Admissions data | All Harvard University admissions data | All Northwestern University admissions data |
| Admissions funnel | Funnel & yield | Funnel & yield |
| Financial aid | Grants & aid bands | Grants & aid bands |
| Cost | Cost of attendance | Cost of attendance |
Other comparisons
Other Northwestern University pairings, and other alternatives to Harvard University.
- No further pairings available for these two schools.
Common questions
What is the acceptance rate at Harvard University vs Northwestern University?
Harvard University admitted 9.20% of applicants while Northwestern University admitted 12.30%.
Which is cheaper, Harvard University or Northwestern University?
Over three years, Northwestern University costs $25,587 less. Harvard University runs $352,146 and Northwestern University runs $326,559, including tuition, mandatory fees and disclosed living costs.
Which school offers more financial aid, Harvard University or Northwestern University?
Harvard University reports a median grant of $27,510 per year for full-time students, compared with $40,000 at Northwestern University. Median figures describe past cohorts and are not aid offers.
Source: ABA Standard 509 Required Disclosures, 2025 reporting cycle, for Harvard University Law School and Northwestern University Law School. Three-year cost totals multiply one year of disclosed tuition, mandatory fees and living costs by three; the 509 does not disclose program length. Figures describe the most recent entering class and past aid cohorts. Not financial advice and not a recommendation of either school.