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View all-time data (83 cross-admits)
83 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
BC is #28 · HLS is #2 in the LSD rankings
See full LSD.Law school rankings →About this comparison
This page compares Boston College and Harvard University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 24 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 24 applicants admitted to both schools, 100% chose to attend Harvard University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.
In the U.S. News rankings, Harvard University is ranked #6 compared to #25 — a gap of 19 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: Harvard University has a median LSAT of 174 compared to 168, a gap of 6 points. This suggests applicants to Harvard University face a more competitive admissions pool.
Both schools are located in Massachusetts — Boston College in Newton and Harvard University in Cambridge — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.
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Admissions Comparison
2025 ABA 509How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.
| Metric | BC | HLS |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #25 | #6 ▲ |
| LSD Rank | #28 (0.027) | #2 (21.678) ▲ |
| LSAT 25th | 162 | 171 ▲ |
| LSAT Median | 168 | 174 ▲ |
| LSAT 75th | 169 | 176 ▲ |
| GPA Median | 3.83 | 3.96 ▲ |
| Acceptance Rate | 8.5% ▲ | 9.2% |
| Class Size | 219 | 579 |
| Yield Rate | 33.2% | 59.2% ▲ |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | BC | HLS |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $72,380 ▲ | $77,100 |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | $72,380 ▲ | $77,100 |
| Median Grant | $24,000 | $27,510 ▲ |
| % Receiving Grants | 89.0% ▲ | 38.0% |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | BC | HLS |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 43.7% | 51.4% ▲ |
| Judicial Clerkships | 9.1% | 21.4% ▲ |
| Median Salary (Private) | $215,000 | - |
| Employment Rate | 94.7% ▲ | 90.7% |
| Bar Pass Rate | 93.8% | 97.9% ▲ |
Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle
How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.
| Cycle | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025 |
0%
|
5 |
| 2023-2024 |
0%
|
10 |
| 2022-2023 |
0%
|
6 |
| 2017-2018 |
0%
|
7 |
| 2011-2012 |
0%
|
8 |
| 2004-2005 |
0%
|
5 |
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