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Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
Cross-Admit Decision Data
Of 23 applicants admitted to both schools:
Based on 23 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles
View all-time data (76 cross-admits)
76 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
IIT-Kent is Top 100 · UIUC is #32 in the LSD rankings
See full LSD.Law school rankings →About this comparison
This page compares Illinois Institute of Technology (Kent) and University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign 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, 74% chose to attend University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.
In the U.S. News rankings, University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign is ranked #48 compared to #107 — a gap of 59 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign has a median LSAT of 166 compared to 161, a gap of 5 points. This suggests applicants to University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign face a more competitive admissions pool.
Both schools are located in Illinois — Illinois Institute of Technology (Kent) in Chicago and University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign in Champaign — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.
Employment outcomes differ substantially: University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign places 34.0% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 10.3% for the other school. This 24 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
On cost, Illinois Institute of Technology (Kent) has lower tuition at - per year compared to $36,500. Combined with employment rates of 87.2% (IIT-Kent) and 96.6% (UIUC), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
Among cross-admitted applicants, Illinois Institute of Technology (Kent) offered a median scholarship of $135,000 compared to $45,000, a difference of $90,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.
Compare Another Pair
Admissions Comparison
2025 ABA 509How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.
| Metric | IIT-Kent | UIUC |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #107 | #48 ▲ |
| LSD Rank | Top 100 (0.005) | #32 (0.018) ▲ |
| LSAT 25th | 156 | 160 ▲ |
| LSAT Median | 161 | 166 ▲ |
| LSAT 75th | 164 | 168 ▲ |
| GPA Median | 3.72 | 3.81 ▲ |
| Acceptance Rate | 38.6% | 32.9% ▲ |
| Class Size | 245 | 188 |
| Yield Rate | 28.6% ▲ | 26.5% |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | IIT-Kent | UIUC |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | - ▲ | $36,500 |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | - ▲ | $46,500 |
| Median Grant | $35,000 ▲ | $32,000 |
| % Receiving Grants | 92.0% | 99.0% ▲ |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | IIT-Kent | UIUC |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 10.3% | 34.0% ▲ |
| Judicial Clerkships | 3.8% | 5.4% ▲ |
| Median Salary (Private) | $120,000 | $150,000 ▲ |
| Employment Rate | 87.2% | 96.6% ▲ |
| Bar Pass Rate | 79.0% | 93.6% ▲ |
Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle
How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.
| Cycle | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025 |
17%
|
6 |
| 2023-2024 |
20%
|
5 |
| 2021-2022 |
40%
|
5 |
| 2011-2012 |
0%
|
5 |
| 2006-2007 |
0%
|
6 |
| 2005-2006 |
17%
|
6 |
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