Boston University vs University of Pennsylvania

This page compares Boston University and University of Pennsylvania across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 70 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 70 applicants admitted to both schools, 100% chose to attend University of Pennsylvania. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of Pennsylvania is ranked #5 compared to #22 — a gap of 17 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

University of Pennsylvania is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 8.1% compared to Boston University's 12.1%.

Boston University is located in Boston, Massachusetts, while University of Pennsylvania is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Pennsylvania places 64.1% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 35.7% for the other school. This 28 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, Boston University has lower tuition at $69,870 per year compared to $78,348. Combined with employment rates of 91.2% (BU) and 92.8% (UPenn), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.