Head-to-head · 14 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 71% chose CUBoulder. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 14 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.
Cross-admit decision
Median scholarship (chose CUBoulder)
Median scholarship (chose L&C)
View all-time (42 cross-admits)
Admissions
Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield 2025 ABA 509Financial
Sticker price, scholarships, and debt burden 2025 ABA 509Employment & outcomes
Post-graduation placement and bar passage 2024 ABA EmploymentCross-admit by cycle
How preferences shifted over recent cyclesOverview
About CUBoulder vs L&C
Across 14 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 71% enrolled at University of Colorado—Boulder and 29% at Lewis And Clark College.
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 University of Colorado—Boulder and Lewis And Clark College across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.
In the U.S. News rankings, University of Colorado—Boulder is ranked #54 compared to #112 — a gap of 58 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 Lewis And Clark College's 54.7%.
University of Colorado—Boulder is located in Boulder, Colorado, while Lewis And Clark College is in Portland, Oregon. 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 Colorado—Boulder places 18.5% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 2.6% for the other school. This 16 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
On cost, University of Colorado—Boulder has lower tuition at $35,992 per year compared to $61,434. Combined with employment rates of 89.9% (CUBoulder) and 82.0% (L&C), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
Among cross-admitted applicants, Lewis And Clark College offered a median scholarship of $111,000 compared to $45,000, a difference of $66,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.