Boston University vs University of Southern California

This page compares Boston University and University of Southern California across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 26 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 26 applicants admitted to both schools, 65% chose to attend University of Southern California. 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: #22 and #26, separated by just 4 positions, making cross-admit data especially useful for deciding between them.

Boston University is located in Boston, Massachusetts, while University of Southern California 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 Southern California places 56.6% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 35.7% for the other school. This 21 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, Boston University has lower tuition at $69,870 per year compared to $84,034. Combined with employment rates of 91.2% (BU) and 95.5% (USC), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.