Head-to-head · 13 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 85% 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 UNL)
View all-time (23 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
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Overview
About UofI vs UNL
Across 13 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 85% enrolled at University of Iowa and 15% at University of Nebraska.
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 Nebraska 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 #62 — a gap of 30 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: University of Iowa has a median LSAT of 164 compared to 160, a gap of 4 points. This suggests applicants to University of Iowa face a more competitive admissions pool.
University of Iowa is located in Iowa City, Iowa, while University of Nebraska is in Lincoln, Nebraska. 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 Iowa places 15.9% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 5.2% for the other school. This 11 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
On cost, University of Nebraska has lower tuition at - per year compared to $30,944. Combined with employment rates of 93.8% (UofI) and 92.8% (UNL), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.