Northwestern University vs University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign

This page compares Northwestern University and University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 21 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 21 applicants admitted to both schools, 100% chose to attend Northwestern University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, Northwestern University is ranked #10 compared to #48 — a gap of 38 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: Northwestern University has a median LSAT of 173 compared to 166, a gap of 7 points. This suggests applicants to Northwestern University face a more competitive admissions pool.

Northwestern University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 12.3% compared to University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign's 32.9%.

Both schools are located in Illinois — Northwestern University in Evanston and University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign in Champaign — 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 34.0% for the other school. This 30 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign has lower tuition at $36,500 per year compared to $79,772. Combined with employment rates of 95.6% (NU) and 96.6% (UIUC), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign offered a median scholarship of $124,500 compared to $105,000, a difference of $19,500 that may factor into enrollment decisions.