Boston University vs University of California—Los Angeles

This page compares Boston University and University of California—Los Angeles across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 38 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 38 applicants admitted to both schools, 87% chose to attend University of California—Los Angeles. 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—Los Angeles is ranked #12 compared to #22 — a gap of 10 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

Boston University is located in Boston, Massachusetts, while University of California—Los Angeles is in Los Angeles, 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—Los Angeles places 50.5% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 35.7% for the other school. This 15 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, University of California—Los Angeles has lower tuition at $59,084 per year compared to $69,870. Combined with employment rates of 91.2% (BU) and 94.4% (UCLA), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Boston University offered a median scholarship of $90,000 compared to $67,753, a difference of $22,247 that may factor into enrollment decisions.