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Head-to-head · 32 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 84% chose UT. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 32 self-reported decisions and ABA 509 filings.

Choice, not ranking

These are decisions, not opinions. Scholarship offers, location, intended practice, and personal fit are all priced into the split.

32
cross-admits
11
cycles
+0pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 32 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
Boston University logo Chose BU
16%
Chose UT University of Texas at Austin logo
84%

Median scholarship (chose BU)

$97,500 / yr

Median scholarship (chose UT)

$100,758 / yr
View all-time (111 cross-admits)
10% chose BU 90% chose UT

Trend · BU's share

2008–2025

Lowest cycle

0%

Highest cycle

27%
11 cycles
100 50 0 08 09 16 17 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 2008: 0% 2009: 13% 2016: 0% 2017: 17% 2019: 0% 2020: 15% 2021: 0% 2022: 20% 2023: 17% 2024: 27% 2025: 0%
BU #23 · UT #15 LSD n≈7/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Boston University logo
BU
Boston, Massachusetts
University of Texas at Austin logo
UT
Austin, Texas
USN Rank
#24
#16
LSD Rank
#23 (0.037)
#15 (0.165)
LSAT 25th
164
166
LSAT Median
170
172
LSAT 75th
171
173
GPA Median
3.88
3.89
Acceptance Rate
12.1%
14.0%
Class Size
238
373
Yield Rate
24.6%
41.0%

Financial

Sticker price and scholarship aid
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Boston University logo
BU
Boston, Massachusetts
University of Texas at Austin logo
UT
Austin, Texas
Tuition (In-State)
$69,870
$38,236
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$69,870
$56,822
Median Grant
$29,000
$23,375
% Receiving Grants
91.0%
94.0%

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2025 ABA Employment
Metric
Boston University logo
BU
Boston, Massachusetts
University of Texas at Austin logo
UT
Austin, Texas
BigLaw (501+)
41.1%
39.3%
Federal Clerkships
1.4%
14.3%
State & Local Clerkships
7.0%
3.9%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
95.8%
99.4%
Bar Pass Rate
92.3%
95.6%

Overview

About BU vs UT

Across 32 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 16% enrolled at Boston University and 84% at University of Texas at Austin.

These numbers reflect every factor that goes into a real decision: scholarship offers, geographic preference, intended practice area, and fit. Choosing one school doesn't mean it's "better" — it means the pool of cross-admits, weighing their options, ended up there more often. Pair this with the scholarship distribution and employment outcomes above for full context.

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Detailed comparison narrative

This page compares Boston University and University of Texas at Austin across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 32 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 32 applicants admitted to both schools, 84% chose to attend University of Texas at Austin. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of Texas at Austin is ranked #16 compared to #24 — a gap of 8 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

Boston University is located in Boston, Massachusetts, while University of Texas at Austin is in Austin, Texas. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.

On cost, University of Texas at Austin has lower tuition at $38,236 per year compared to $69,870. Combined with employment rates of 95.8% (BU) and 99.4% (UT), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.