Head-to-head · 33 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 94% chose UNC. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 33 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
Median scholarship (chose UNC)
Median scholarship (chose Emory University)
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Trend · UNC's share
Admissions
Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield 2025 ABA 509Financial
Sticker price, scholarships, and debt burden 2025 ABA 509Employment & outcomes
Post-graduation placement and bar passage 2024 ABA EmploymentCross-admit by cycle
How preferences shifted over recent cyclesOverview
About UNC vs Emory University
Across 33 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 94% enrolled at University of North Carolina and 6% at Emory University.
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 North Carolina and Emory University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 33 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 33 applicants admitted to both schools, 94% chose to attend University of North Carolina. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.
In the U.S. News rankings, University of North Carolina is ranked #18 compared to #40 — a gap of 22 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
University of North Carolina is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 11.2% compared to Emory University's 30.1%.
University of North Carolina is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, while Emory University is in Atlanta, Georgia. 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 North Carolina has lower tuition at $28,082 per year compared to $69,510. Combined with employment rates of 96.2% (UNC) and 92.0% (Emory University), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
Among cross-admitted applicants, Emory University offered a median scholarship of $132,000 compared to $52,500, a difference of $79,500 that may factor into enrollment decisions.