Harvard University vs University of Notre Dame

This page compares Harvard University and University of Notre Dame across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 21 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 21 applicants admitted to both schools, 95% chose to attend Harvard University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, Harvard University is ranked #6 compared to #20 — a gap of 14 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: Harvard University has a median LSAT of 174 compared to 170, a gap of 4 points. This suggests applicants to Harvard University face a more competitive admissions pool.

Harvard University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 9.2% compared to University of Notre Dame's 16.1%.

Harvard University is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, while University of Notre Dame is in South Bend, Indiana. 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: Harvard University places 51.4% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 39.6% for the other school. This 12 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Notre Dame offered a median scholarship of $180,000 compared to $149,000, a difference of $31,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.