Head-to-head · 13 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 77% chose UofI. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 13 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 UofI
Median scholarship (chose UofI)
Median scholarship (chose UofA)
View all-time (20 cross-admits)
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
Related comparisons
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Overview
About UofI vs UofA
Across 13 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 77% enrolled at University of Iowa and 23% at University of Arizona.
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 University of Iowa and University of Arizona across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.
In the U.S. News rankings, University of Iowa is ranked #32 compared to #70 — a gap of 38 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
University of Arizona is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 27.9% compared to University of Iowa's 44.3%.
University of Iowa is located in Iowa City, Iowa, while University of Arizona is in Tucson, Arizona. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.
On cost, University of Iowa has lower tuition at $30,944 per year compared to $55,630. Combined with employment rates of 93.8% (UofI) and 87.5% (UofA), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Iowa offered a median scholarship of $100,467 compared to $82,320, a difference of $18,147 that may factor into enrollment decisions.