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Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
View all-time data (140 cross-admits)
140 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
BU is #23 · UVA is #7 in the LSD rankings
See full LSD.Law school rankings →About this comparison
This page compares Boston University and University of Virginia across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 60 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 60 applicants admitted to both schools, 100% chose to attend University of Virginia. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.
In the U.S. News rankings, University of Virginia is ranked #4 compared to #22 — a gap of 18 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
Boston University is located in Boston, Massachusetts, while University of Virginia is in Charlottesville, Virginia. 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 Virginia places 60.2% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 35.7% for the other school. This 25 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
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Admissions Comparison
2025 ABA 509How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.
| Metric | BU | UVA |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #22 | #4 ▲ |
| LSD Rank | #23 (0.043) | #7 (1.701) ▲ |
| LSAT 25th | 164 | 168 ▲ |
| LSAT Median | 170 | 173 ▲ |
| LSAT 75th | 171 | 175 ▲ |
| GPA Median | 3.88 | 3.99 ▲ |
| Acceptance Rate | 12.1% | 10.2% ▲ |
| Class Size | 238 | 309 |
| Yield Rate | 24.6% | 44.1% ▲ |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | BU | UVA |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $69,870 ▲ | $74,078 |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | $69,870 ▲ | $76,396 |
| Median Grant | $29,000 | $35,000 ▲ |
| % Receiving Grants | 91.0% ▲ | 66.0% |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | BU | UVA |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 35.7% | 60.2% ▲ |
| Judicial Clerkships | 9.1% | 16.4% ▲ |
| Median Salary (Private) | $225,000 | - |
| Employment Rate | 91.2% | 95.3% ▲ |
| Bar Pass Rate | 92.3% | 95.0% ▲ |
Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle
How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.
| Cycle | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-2024 |
0%
|
12 |
| 2022-2023 |
0%
|
16 |
| 2021-2022 |
0%
|
16 |
| 2020-2021 |
0%
|
12 |
| 2019-2020 |
0%
|
10 |
| 2016-2017 |
0%
|
5 |
| 2013-2014 |
20%
|
5 |
| 2012-2013 |
0%
|
8 |
| 2011-2012 |
0%
|
5 |
| 2009-2010 |
14%
|
7 |
| 2008-2009 |
0%
|
6 |
| 2006-2007 |
0%
|
8 |
| 2005-2006 |
0%
|
5 |
| 2004-2005 |
20%
|
5 |
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