Boston University vs University of Chicago

This page compares Boston University and University of Chicago across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 23 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 23 applicants admitted to both schools, 100% chose to attend University of Chicago. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of Chicago is ranked #3 compared to #22 — a gap of 19 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: University of Chicago has a median LSAT of 174 compared to 170, a gap of 4 points. This suggests applicants to University of Chicago face a more competitive admissions pool.

Boston University is located in Boston, Massachusetts, while University of Chicago is in Chicago, Illinois. 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 Chicago places 48.7% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 35.7% for the other school. This 13 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, Boston University has lower tuition at $69,870 per year compared to $83,316. Combined with employment rates of 91.2% (BU) and 97.0% (UC), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Boston University offered a median scholarship of $147,459 compared to $45,000, a difference of $102,459 that may factor into enrollment decisions.