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Harvard University vs University of Virginia

Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes

Cross-Admit Decision Data

Of 136 applicants admitted to both schools:

90%
10%
Median scholarship: $110,625 Median scholarship: $135,000

Based on 136 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles

View all-time data (468 cross-admits)
93% chose HLS 7% chose UVA

468 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)

HLS is #2 · UVA is #7 in the LSD rankings

See full LSD.Law school rankings →
About this comparison

This page compares Harvard University and University of Virginia across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 136 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 136 applicants admitted to both schools, 90% 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: #4 and #6, separated by just 2 positions, making cross-admit data especially useful for deciding between them.

Harvard University is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, 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.

Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Virginia offered a median scholarship of $135,000 compared to $110,625, a difference of $24,375 that may factor into enrollment decisions.

Compare Another Pair

Harvard University
vs
University of Virginia

Admissions Comparison

2025 ABA 509

How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.

Metric HLS UVA
USN Rank #6 #4
LSD Rank #2 (21.678) #7 (1.701)
LSAT 25th 171 168
LSAT Median 174 173
LSAT 75th 176 175
GPA Median 3.96 3.99
Acceptance Rate 9.2% 10.2%
Class Size 579 309
Yield Rate 59.2% 44.1%

Financial Comparison

2025 ABA 509

Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.

Metric HLS UVA
Tuition (In-State) $77,100 $74,078
Tuition (Out-of-State) $77,100 $76,396
Median Grant $27,510 $35,000
% Receiving Grants 38.0% 66.0%
Avg. Debt at Graduation - -

Employment Outcomes

2024 ABA 509

Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.

Metric HLS UVA
BigLaw (501+) 51.4% 60.2%
Judicial Clerkships 21.4% 16.4%
Median Salary (Private) - -
Employment Rate 90.7% 95.3%
Bar Pass Rate 97.9% 95.0%

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