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Head-to-head · 23 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 100% chose UVA. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 23 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.

23
cross-admits
7
cycles
+0pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 23 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
University of Virginia logo Chose UVA
100%
Chose BC Boston College logo
0%

Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025

per year
$35,000
66.0% get a grant
$39,078 net tuition
$24,000
89.0% get a grant
$48,380 net tuition

Cross-admits who enrolled · self-reported, 3-yr award

$90,000
n = 19
—
n < 5
View all-time (74 cross-admits)
99% chose UVA 1% chose BC

Trend · UVA's share

2005–2025
100%
every cycle (7)
100 50 0 05 08 12 14 19 22 25 2005: 100% 2008: 100% 2012: 100% 2014: 100% 2019: 100% 2022: 100% 2025: 100%
UVA #7 · BC #23 LSD n≈5/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
University of Virginia logo
UVA
Charlottesville, Virginia
Boston College logo
BC
Newton, Massachusetts
USN Rank
#4
#20
LSD Rank
#7 (1.445)
#23 (0.026)
LSAT 25th
168
162
LSAT Median
173
168
LSAT 75th
175
169
GPA Median
3.99
3.83
Acceptance Rate
10.2%
8.5%
Class Size
309
219
Yield Rate
44.1%
33.2%

Financial

Sticker price and scholarship aid
2025 ABA 509
Metric
University of Virginia logo
UVA
Charlottesville, Virginia
Boston College logo
BC
Newton, Massachusetts
Tuition (In-State)
$74,078
$72,380
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$76,396
$72,380
Median Grant
$35,000
$24,000
% Receiving Grants
66.0%
89.0%

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2025 ABA Employment
Metric
University of Virginia logo
UVA
Charlottesville, Virginia
Boston College logo
BC
Newton, Massachusetts
BigLaw (501+)
64.0%
45.1%
Federal Clerkships
10.7%
2.3%
State & Local Clerkships
1.3%
6.1%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
98.7%
96.2%
Bar Pass Rate
95.0%
93.8%

Overview

About UVA vs BC

Across 23 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 100% enrolled at University of Virginia and 0% at Boston College.

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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Compare another pair

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Detailed comparison narrative

This page compares University of Virginia and Boston College across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 23 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 23 applicants admitted to both schools, 100% chose to attend University of Virginia. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of Virginia is ranked #4 compared to #20 — a gap of 16 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: University of Virginia has a median LSAT of 173 compared to 168, a gap of 5 points. This suggests applicants to University of Virginia face a more competitive admissions pool.

University of Virginia is located in Charlottesville, Virginia, while Boston College is in Newton, Massachusetts. 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: University of Virginia places 64.0% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 45.1% for the other school. This 19 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.