Head-to-head · 14 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 79% chose IU. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 14 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
Median scholarship (chose IU)
Median scholarship (chose Indiana University)
View all-time (40 cross-admits)
Admissions
Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield 2026 ABA 509Financial
Sticker price, scholarships, and debt burden 2026 ABA 509Employment & outcomes
Post-graduation placement and bar passage 2025 ABA EmploymentCross-admit by cycle
How preferences shifted over recent cyclesOverview
About IU vs Indiana University
Across 14 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 79% enrolled at Indiana University - Bloomington and 21% at Indiana University - Indianapolis.
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 Indiana University - Bloomington and Indiana University - Indianapolis across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.
In the U.S. News rankings, Indiana University - Bloomington is ranked #49 compared to #124 — a gap of 75 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
Both schools are located in Indiana — Indiana University - Bloomington in Bloomington and Indiana University - Indianapolis in Indianapolis — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.
Employment outcomes differ substantially: Indiana University - Bloomington places 16.5% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 6.1% for the other school. This 10 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
Among cross-admitted applicants, Indiana University - Indianapolis offered a median scholarship of $60,000 compared to $45,000, a difference of $15,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.