University of Colorado—Boulder logo

University of Colorado—Boulder vs University of Iowa

University of Iowa logo

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

Cross-Admit Decision Data

Of 14 applicants admitted to both schools:

43%
57%
Median scholarship: $50,000 Median scholarship: $118,783

Based on 14 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles

View all-time data (36 cross-admits)
36% chose CUBoulder 64% chose UofI

36 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)

CUBoulder is Top 75 · UofI is #38 in the LSD rankings

See full LSD.Law school rankings →

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About this comparison

This page compares University of Colorado—Boulder and University of Iowa across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of Iowa is ranked #36 compared to #46 — a gap of 10 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

University of Colorado—Boulder is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 27.6% compared to University of Iowa's 44.3%.

University of Colorado—Boulder is located in Boulder, Colorado, while University of Iowa is in Iowa City, Iowa. 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 Iowa has lower tuition at $30,944 per year compared to $35,992. Combined with employment rates of 89.9% (CUBoulder) and 93.8% (UofI), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Iowa offered a median scholarship of $118,783 compared to $50,000, a difference of $68,783 that may factor into enrollment decisions.

Compare Another Pair

University of Colorado—Boulder
vs
University of Iowa

Admissions Comparison

2025 ABA 509

How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.

Metric CUBoulder UofI
USN Rank #46 #36
LSD Rank Top 75 (0.006) #38 (0.011)
LSAT 25th 161 161
LSAT Median 164 164
LSAT 75th 167 165
GPA Median 3.81 3.78
Acceptance Rate 27.6% 44.3%
Class Size 199 159
Yield Rate 20.3% 28.2%

Financial Comparison

2025 ABA 509

Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.

Metric CUBoulder UofI
Tuition (In-State) $35,992 $30,944
Tuition (Out-of-State) $44,002 $52,191
Median Grant $15,000 $30,043
% Receiving Grants 87.0% 77.0%
Avg. Debt at Graduation - -

Employment Outcomes

2024 ABA 509

Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.

Metric CUBoulder UofI
BigLaw (501+) 18.5% 15.9%
Judicial Clerkships 18.5% 17.0%
Median Salary (Private) $137,500 $160,000
Employment Rate 89.9% 93.8%
Bar Pass Rate 90.4% 91.0%

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