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Boston University vs University of Virginia

Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes

Cross-Admit Decision Data

Of 60 applicants admitted to both schools:

0%
100%
Median scholarship: $120,000 Median scholarship: $120,000

Based on 60 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles

View all-time data (140 cross-admits)
2% chose BU 98% chose UVA

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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Boston University
vs
University of Virginia

Admissions Comparison

2025 ABA 509

How 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 509

Tuition, 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 509

Post-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%

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