Boston University vs University of California—Berkeley

This page compares Boston University and University of California—Berkeley across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 62 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 62 applicants admitted to both schools, 94% chose to attend University of California—Berkeley. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of California—Berkeley is ranked #13 compared to #22 — a gap of 9 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

Boston University is located in Boston, Massachusetts, while University of California—Berkeley is in Berkeley, California. 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 California—Berkeley places 52.2% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 35.7% for the other school. This 17 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, University of California—Berkeley has lower tuition at $62,532 per year compared to $69,870. Combined with employment rates of 91.2% (BU) and 93.6% (UCBerkeley), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Boston University offered a median scholarship of $120,000 compared to $90,000, a difference of $30,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.