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Head-to-head · 42 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 50% chose UIUC. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 42 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.

42
cross-admits
15
cycles
-43pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 42 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign logo Chose UIUC
50%
Chose IU Indiana University - Bloomington logo
50%

Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025

per year
$32,000
99.0% get a grant
$4,500 net tuition
$33,000
100.0% get a grant
$3,950 net tuition

Cross-admits who enrolled · self-reported, 3-yr award

$107,250
n = 20
$129,000
n = 21
View all-time (122 cross-admits)
72% chose UIUC 28% chose IU

Trend · UIUC's share

2004–2025

Lowest cycle

38%

Highest cycle

100%
15 cycles
100 50 0 04 05 06 08 09 10 14 16 17 20 21 22 23 24 25 2004: 83% 2005: 100% 2006: 100% 2008: 80% 2009: 60% 2010: 60% 2014: 83% 2016: 80% 2017: 100% 2020: 100% 2021: 50% 2022: 57% 2023: 67% 2024: 38% 2025: 40%
UIUC #34 · IU #45 LSD n≈6/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign logo
UIUC
Champaign, Illinois
Indiana University - Bloomington logo
IU
Bloomington, Indiana
USN Rank
#46
#49
LSD Rank
#34 (0.014)
#45 (0.009)
LSAT 25th
160
158
LSAT Median
166
164
LSAT 75th
168
166
GPA Median
3.81
3.91
Acceptance Rate
32.9%
35.8%
Class Size
188
186
Yield Rate
26.5%
28.4%

Financial

Sticker price and scholarship aid
2025 ABA 509
Metric
University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign logo
UIUC
Champaign, Illinois
Indiana University - Bloomington logo
IU
Bloomington, Indiana
Tuition (In-State)
$36,500
$36,950
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$46,500
$58,000
Median Grant
$32,000
$33,000
% Receiving Grants
99.0%
100.0%

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2025 ABA Employment
Metric
University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign logo
UIUC
Champaign, Illinois
Indiana University - Bloomington logo
IU
Bloomington, Indiana
BigLaw (501+)
28.1%
16.5%
Federal Clerkships
4.6%
4.3%
State & Local Clerkships
3.3%
7.3%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
96.1%
91.5%
Bar Pass Rate
93.6%
87.4%

Overview

About UIUC vs IU

Across 42 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 50% enrolled at University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign and 50% at Indiana University - Bloomington. The split has shifted -43 points across the tracked cycles.

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.

Looking at a different matchup? Browse all comparisons or run a custom pair from the index.

Deciding between UIUC and IU? Work with a consultant who knows both — backed by this exact data.
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Detailed comparison narrative

This page compares University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign and Indiana University - Bloomington across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 42 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 42 applicants admitted to both schools, 50% chose to attend Indiana University - Bloomington. 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: #46 and #49, separated by just 3 positions, making cross-admit data especially useful for deciding between them.

University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign is located in Champaign, Illinois, while Indiana University - Bloomington is in Bloomington, 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 Illinois—Urbana Champaign places 28.1% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 16.5% for the other school. This 12 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

Among cross-admitted applicants who enrolled, those choosing Indiana University - Bloomington reported a higher median scholarship — $129,000 versus $107,250 over three years — though aid is one of several factors behind the enrollment decision.