Head-to-head · 16 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 75% chose DePaul. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 16 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 DePaul
Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025
per yearCross-admits who enrolled · self-reported, 3-yr award
View all-time (24 cross-admits)
Trend · DePaul's share
Lowest cycle
Highest cycle
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 DePaul vs UIC
Across 16 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 75% enrolled at DePaul University and 25% at University of Illinois—Chicago. The split has shifted +20 points across the tracked cycles.
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 DePaul University and University of Illinois—Chicago across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.
In the U.S. News rankings, DePaul University is ranked #131 compared to #167 — a gap of 36 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: DePaul University has a median LSAT of 158 compared to 153, a gap of 5 points. This suggests applicants to DePaul University face a more competitive admissions pool.
DePaul University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 34.8% compared to University of Illinois—Chicago's 52.6%.
Both schools are located in Illinois — DePaul University in Chicago and University of Illinois—Chicago in Chicago — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.
On cost, University of Illinois—Chicago has lower tuition at - per year compared to $55,328. Combined with employment rates of 88.4% (DePaul) and 80.3% (UIC), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
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