University of Iowa vs University of Notre Dame

This page compares University of Iowa and University of Notre Dame across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of Notre Dame is ranked #20 compared to #36 — a gap of 16 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: University of Notre Dame has a median LSAT of 170 compared to 164, a gap of 6 points. This suggests applicants to University of Notre Dame face a more competitive admissions pool.

University of Notre Dame is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 16.1% compared to University of Iowa's 44.3%.

University of Iowa is located in Iowa City, Iowa, 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: University of Notre Dame places 39.6% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 15.9% for the other school. This 24 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, University of Iowa has lower tuition at $30,944 per year compared to $73,430. Combined with employment rates of 93.8% (UofI) and 95.2% (ND), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.