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Head-to-head · 25 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 76% chose ND. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 25 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.

25
cross-admits
6
cycles
-33pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 25 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
University of Notre Dame logo Chose ND
76%
Chose BU Boston University logo
24%

Median scholarship (chose ND)

$120,000 / yr

Median scholarship (chose BU)

$106,500 / yr
View all-time (68 cross-admits)
81% chose ND 19% chose BU

Trend · ND's share

2008–2024

Lowest cycle

67%

Highest cycle

100%
6 cycles
100 50 0 08 20 21 22 23 24 2008: 100% 2020: 88% 2021: 67% 2022: 80% 2023: 83% 2024: 67%
ND #17 · BU #23 LSD n≈6/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
University of Notre Dame logo
ND
South Bend, Indiana
Boston University logo
BU
Boston, Massachusetts
USN Rank
#20
#24
LSD Rank
#17 (0.099)
#23 (0.037)
LSAT 25th
166
164
LSAT Median
170
170
LSAT 75th
171
171
GPA Median
3.89
3.88
Acceptance Rate
16.1%
12.1%
Class Size
185
238
Yield Rate
31.6%
24.6%

Financial

Sticker price, scholarships, and debt burden
2025 ABA 509
Metric
University of Notre Dame logo
ND
South Bend, Indiana
Boston University logo
BU
Boston, Massachusetts
Tuition (In-State)
$73,430
$69,870
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$73,430
$69,870
Median Grant
$30,000
$29,000
% Receiving Grants
92.0%
91.0%
Avg. Debt at Graduation
-
-

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2024 ABA Employment
Metric
University of Notre Dame logo
ND
South Bend, Indiana
Boston University logo
BU
Boston, Massachusetts
BigLaw (501+)
39.6%
35.7%
Judicial Clerkships
21.9%
9.1%
Median Salary (Private)
$215,000
$225,000
Employment Rate
95.2%
91.2%
Bar Pass Rate
92.2%
92.3%

Overview

About ND vs BU

Across 25 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 76% enrolled at University of Notre Dame and 24% at Boston University. The split has shifted -33 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.

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Detailed comparison narrative

This page compares University of Notre Dame and Boston University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 25 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 25 applicants admitted to both schools, 76% chose to attend University of Notre Dame. 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.

University of Notre Dame is located in South Bend, Indiana, while Boston University is in Boston, Massachusetts. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.

Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Notre Dame offered a median scholarship of $120,000 compared to $106,500, a difference of $13,500 that may factor into enrollment decisions.