This page compares Arizona State University and Vanderbilt University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 20 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 20 applicants admitted to both schools, 100% chose to attend Vanderbilt University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, Vanderbilt University is ranked #12 compared to #44 — a gap of 32 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: Vanderbilt University has a median LSAT of 170 compared to 165, a gap of 5 points. This suggests applicants to Vanderbilt University face a more competitive admissions pool.

Arizona State University is located in Tempe, Arizona, while Vanderbilt University is in Nashville, Tennessee. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.

Employment outcomes differ substantially: Vanderbilt University places 46.7% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 14.5% for the other school. This 32 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, Arizona State University has lower tuition at $28,390 per year compared to $76,440. Combined with employment rates of 93.8% (ASU) and 98.8% (Vandy), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Vanderbilt University offered a median scholarship of $114,660 compared to $100,000, a difference of $14,660 that may factor into enrollment decisions.