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Head-to-head · 34 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 79% chose BU. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 34 self-reported decisions and ABA 509 filings.

Choice, not ranking

These are decisions, not opinions. Scholarship offers, location, intended practice, and personal fit are all priced into the split.

34
cross-admits
19
cycles
-83pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 34 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
Boston College logo Chose BC
21%
Chose BU Boston University logo
79%

Median scholarship (chose BC)

$112,500 / yr

Median scholarship (chose BU)

$112,500 / yr
View all-time (166 cross-admits)
34% chose BC 66% chose BU

Trend · BC's share

2004–2024

Lowest cycle

0%

Highest cycle

83%
19 cycles
100 50 0 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 15 16 17 18 20 21 22 23 24 2004: 83% 2005: 50% 2006: 54% 2007: 33% 2008: 60% 2009: 55% 2010: 53% 2011: 60% 2012: 18% 2013: 17% 2015: 0% 2016: 17% 2017: 0% 2018: 60% 2020: 7% 2021: 20% 2022: 45% 2023: 0% 2024: 0%
BC #29 · BU #23 LSD n≈8/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Boston College logo
BC
Newton, Massachusetts
Boston University logo
BU
Boston, Massachusetts
USN Rank
#20
#24
LSD Rank
#29 (0.022)
#23 (0.037)
LSAT 25th
162
164
LSAT Median
168
170
LSAT 75th
169
171
GPA Median
3.83
3.88
Acceptance Rate
8.5%
12.1%
Class Size
219
238
Yield Rate
33.2%
24.6%

Financial

Sticker price and scholarship aid
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Boston College logo
BC
Newton, Massachusetts
Boston University logo
BU
Boston, Massachusetts
Tuition (In-State)
$72,380
$69,870
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$72,380
$69,870
Median Grant
$24,000
$29,000
% Receiving Grants
89.0%
91.0%

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2025 ABA Employment
Metric
Boston College logo
BC
Newton, Massachusetts
Boston University logo
BU
Boston, Massachusetts
BigLaw (501+)
45.1%
41.1%
Judicial Clerkships
8.5%
8.4%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
96.2%
95.8%
Bar Pass Rate
93.8%
92.3%

Overview

About BC vs BU

Across 34 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 21% enrolled at Boston College and 79% at Boston University. The split has shifted -83 points across the tracked cycles.

These numbers reflect every factor that goes into a real decision: scholarship offers, geographic preference, intended practice area, and fit. Choosing one school doesn't mean it's "better" — it means the pool of cross-admits, weighing their options, ended up there more often. Pair this with the scholarship distribution and employment outcomes above for full context.

Looking at a different matchup? Browse all comparisons or run a custom pair from the index.

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Detailed comparison narrative

This page compares Boston College and Boston University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 34 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 34 applicants admitted to both schools, 79% chose to attend Boston University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

Both schools are closely ranked in U.S. News: #20 and #24, separated by just 4 positions, making cross-admit data especially useful for deciding between them.

Both schools are located in Massachusetts — Boston College in Newton and Boston University in Boston — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.