Northwestern University vs University of Chicago

This page compares Northwestern University and University of Chicago across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 62 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 62 applicants admitted to both schools, 87% chose to attend University of Chicago. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of Chicago is ranked #3 compared to #10 — a gap of 7 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

Both schools are located in Illinois — Northwestern University in Evanston and University of Chicago in Chicago — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.

Employment outcomes differ substantially: Northwestern University places 64.1% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 48.7% for the other school. This 15 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Northwestern University offered a median scholarship of $105,000 compared to $60,000, a difference of $45,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.