Boston University vs Harvard University

This page compares Boston University and Harvard University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 86 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 86 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 #22 — 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: Harvard University has a median LSAT of 174 compared to 170, a gap of 4 points. This suggests applicants to Harvard University face a more competitive admissions pool.

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

Employment outcomes differ substantially: Harvard University places 51.4% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 35.7% for the other school. This 16 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, Boston University has lower tuition at $69,870 per year compared to $77,100. Combined with employment rates of 91.2% (BU) and 90.7% (HLS), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Boston University offered a median scholarship of $181,500 compared to $117,750, a difference of $63,750 that may factor into enrollment decisions.