Head-to-head · 14 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 86% chose Utah. 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
Chose DU
Median scholarship (chose DU)
Median scholarship (chose Utah)
View all-time (24 cross-admits)
Admissions
Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield 2025 ABA 509
Financial
Sticker price and scholarship aid 2025 ABA 509
Employment & outcomes
Post-graduation placement and bar passage 2025 ABA Employment
Cross-admit by cycle
How preferences shifted over recent cyclesRelated comparisons
Other popular cross-admit matchups
Overview
About DU vs Utah
Across 14 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 14% enrolled at University of Denver and 86% at University of Utah.
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 Denver 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 #44 compared to #91 — a gap of 47 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: University of Utah has a median LSAT of 166 compared to 160, a gap of 6 points. This suggests applicants to University of Utah face a more competitive admissions pool.
University of Utah is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 25.3% compared to University of Denver's 41.3%.
University of Denver is located in Denver, 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.
On cost, University of Utah has lower tuition at $34,721 per year compared to $63,390. Combined with employment rates of 87.7% (DU) and 96.8% (Utah), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Denver offered a median scholarship of $121,500 compared to $52,425, a difference of $69,075 that may factor into enrollment decisions.
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