Head-to-head · 34 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 97% chose UVA. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 34 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 Emory University
Median scholarship (chose Emory University)
Median scholarship (chose UVA)
View all-time (129 cross-admits)
Trend · Emory University'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
George Washington University
49
Georgetown University
46
University of Georgia
40
University of Michigan
35
University of North Carolina
35
Overview
About Emory University vs UVA
Across 34 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 3% enrolled at Emory University and 97% at University of Virginia.
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.
Looking at a different matchup? Browse all comparisons or run a custom pair from the index.
Compare another pair
Detailed comparison narrative
This page compares Emory University and University of Virginia across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 34 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 34 applicants admitted to both schools, 97% 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 #40 — 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: University of Virginia has a median LSAT of 173 compared to 166, a gap of 7 points. This suggests applicants to University of Virginia face a more competitive admissions pool.
University of Virginia is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 10.2% compared to Emory University's 30.1%.
Emory University is located in Atlanta, Georgia, 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: University of Virginia places 64.0% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 29.5% for the other school. This 35 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
Among cross-admitted applicants, Emory University offered a median scholarship of $144,000 compared to $97,500, a difference of $46,500 that may factor into enrollment decisions.
Your study break just got better: follow @lawschooldata on Follow @lawschooldata on TikTok & Instagram