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Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
Cross-Admit Decision Data
Of 14 applicants admitted to both schools:
Based on 14 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles
View all-time data (21 cross-admits)
21 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
CUBoulder is Top 75 · Utah is #36 in the LSD rankings
See full LSD.Law school rankings →About this comparison
This page compares University of Colorado—Boulder and University of Utah across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.
In the U.S. News rankings, University of Utah is ranked #31 compared to #46 — a gap of 15 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
University of Colorado—Boulder is located in Boulder, Colorado, while University of Utah is in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 8.4% for the other school. This 10 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Utah offered a median scholarship of $100,000 compared to $55,000, a difference of $45,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.
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Admissions Comparison
2025 ABA 509How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.
| Metric | CUBoulder | Utah |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #46 | #31 ▲ |
| LSD Rank | Top 75 (0.008) | #36 (0.016) ▲ |
| LSAT 25th | 161 | 162 ▲ |
| LSAT Median | 164 | 166 ▲ |
| LSAT 75th | 167 | 168 ▲ |
| GPA Median | 3.81 | 3.87 ▲ |
| Acceptance Rate | 27.6% | 25.3% ▲ |
| Class Size | 199 | 107 |
| Yield Rate | 20.3% | 28.0% ▲ |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | CUBoulder | Utah |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $35,992 | $34,721 ▲ |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | $44,002 ▲ | $45,382 |
| Median Grant | $15,000 | $28,410 ▲ |
| % Receiving Grants | 87.0% | 91.0% ▲ |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | CUBoulder | Utah |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 18.5% ▲ | 8.4% |
| Judicial Clerkships | 18.5% ▲ | 13.7% |
| Median Salary (Private) | $137,500 ▲ | $120,000 |
| Employment Rate | 89.9% | 92.6% ▲ |
| Bar Pass Rate | 90.4% | 94.7% ▲ |
Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle
How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.
| Cycle | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-2024 |
33%
|
6 |
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