Head-to-head · 15 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 100% chose HLS. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 15 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 HLS
Median scholarship (chose HLS)
Median scholarship (chose 'Bama)
View all-time (27 cross-admits)
Trend · HLS's share
Admissions
Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield 2025 ABA 509
Financial
Sticker price, scholarships, and debt burden 2025 ABA 509
Employment & outcomes
Post-graduation placement and bar passage 2024 ABA Employment
Cross-admit by cycle
How preferences shifted over recent cyclesRelated comparisons
Other popular cross-admit matchups
Overview
About HLS vs 'Bama
Across 15 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 100% enrolled at Harvard University and 0% at University of Alabama.
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 Harvard University and University of Alabama across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.
In the U.S. News rankings, Harvard University is ranked #6 compared to #40 — a gap of 34 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 167, a gap of 7 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 Alabama's 25.6%.
Harvard University is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, while University of Alabama is in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. 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 20.1% for the other school. This 31 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
On cost, University of Alabama has lower tuition at $24,980 per year compared to $77,100. Combined with employment rates of 90.7% (HLS) and 92.2% ('Bama), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.