Harvard University vs University of Pennsylvania

This page compares Harvard University and University of Pennsylvania across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 104 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 104 applicants admitted to both schools, 92% chose to attend Harvard University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

Both schools are closely ranked in U.S. News: #5 and #6, separated by just 1 positions, making cross-admit data especially useful for deciding between them.

Harvard University is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, while University of Pennsylvania is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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 Pennsylvania places 64.1% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 51.4% for the other school. This 13 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Pennsylvania offered a median scholarship of $140,684 compared to $106,100, a difference of $34,584 that may factor into enrollment decisions.