Cornell University vs University of Virginia

This page compares Cornell University and University of Virginia across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 52 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 52 applicants admitted to both schools, 90% chose to attend University of Virginia. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of Virginia is ranked #4 compared to #18 — a gap of 14 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

University of Virginia is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 10.2% compared to Cornell University's 18.2%.

Cornell University is located in Ithaca, New York, while University of Virginia is in Charlottesville, Virginia. 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: Cornell University places 71.9% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 60.2% for the other school. This 12 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, University of Virginia has lower tuition at $74,078 per year compared to $84,722. Combined with employment rates of 98.0% (Cornell University) and 95.3% (UVA), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.