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Columbia University vs University of Texas at Austin
Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
View all-time data (119 cross-admits)
119 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
CLS is #5 · UT is #14 in the LSD rankings
See full LSD.Law school rankings →About this comparison
This page compares Columbia University and University of Texas at Austin across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 37 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 37 applicants admitted to both schools, 81% chose to attend Columbia University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.
Both schools are closely ranked in U.S. News: #10 and #14, separated by just 4 positions, making cross-admit data especially useful for deciding between them.
Columbia University is located in New York City, New York, while University of Texas at Austin is in Austin, Texas. 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: Columbia University places 65.4% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 42.5% for the other school. This 23 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
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Admissions Comparison
2025 ABA 509How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.
| Metric | CLS | UT |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #10 ▲ | #14 |
| LSD Rank | #5 (2.470) ▲ | #14 (0.186) |
| LSAT 25th | 169 ▲ | 166 |
| LSAT Median | 173 ▲ | 172 |
| LSAT 75th | 175 ▲ | 173 |
| GPA Median | 3.92 ▲ | 3.89 |
| Acceptance Rate | 11.8% ▲ | 14.0% |
| Class Size | 444 | 373 |
| Yield Rate | 36.8% | 41.0% ▲ |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | CLS | UT |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $85,368 | - |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | $85,368 | - |
| Median Grant | $32,000 | - |
| % Receiving Grants | 54.0% | - |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | CLS | UT |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 65.4% ▲ | 42.5% |
| Judicial Clerkships | 6.5% | 15.8% ▲ |
| Median Salary (Private) | - | $225,000 |
| Employment Rate | 95.6% | 96.4% ▲ |
| Bar Pass Rate | 95.8% ▲ | 95.6% |
Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle
How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.
CLS
UT
| Cycle | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025 |
67%
|
6 |
| 2023-2024 |
80%
|
5 |
| 2022-2023 |
89%
|
9 |
| 2021-2022 |
67%
|
6 |
| 2020-2021 |
91%
|
11 |
| 2019-2020 |
100%
|
8 |
| 2017-2018 |
100%
|
9 |
| 2016-2017 |
100%
|
7 |
| 2014-2015 |
83%
|
6 |
| 2012-2013 |
80%
|
5 |
| 2011-2012 |
100%
|
7 |
| 2010-2011 |
75%
|
8 |
| 2009-2010 |
80%
|
5 |
| 2008-2009 |
100%
|
5 |
| 2007-2008 |
100%
|
6 |
| 2005-2006 |
80%
|
5 |
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