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Northwestern University vs University of Texas at Austin

Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes

Cross-Admit Decision Data

Of 40 applicants admitted to both schools:

80%
20%
Median scholarship: $120,000 Median scholarship: $90,000

Based on 40 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles

View all-time data (106 cross-admits)
72% chose NU 28% chose UT

106 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)

NU is #12 · UT is #14 in the LSD rankings

See full LSD.Law school rankings →
About this comparison

This page compares Northwestern University and University of Texas at Austin across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 40 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 40 applicants admitted to both schools, 80% chose to attend Northwestern University. 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: #10 and #14, separated by just 4 positions, making cross-admit data especially useful for deciding between them.

Northwestern University is located in Evanston, Illinois, while University of Texas at Austin is in Austin, Texas. 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: Northwestern University places 64.1% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 42.5% for the other school. This 22 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Northwestern University offered a median scholarship of $120,000 compared to $90,000, a difference of $30,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.

Compare Another Pair

Northwestern University
vs
University of Texas at Austin

Admissions Comparison

2025 ABA 509

How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.

Metric NU UT
USN Rank #10 #14
LSD Rank #12 (0.471) #14 (0.186)
LSAT 25th 167 166
LSAT Median 173 172
LSAT 75th 175 173
GPA Median 3.96 3.89
Acceptance Rate 12.3% 14.0%
Class Size 250 373
Yield Rate 25.0% 41.0%

Financial Comparison

2025 ABA 509

Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.

Metric NU UT
Tuition (In-State) $79,772 -
Tuition (Out-of-State) $79,722 -
Median Grant $40,000 -
% Receiving Grants 76.0% -
Avg. Debt at Graduation - -

Employment Outcomes

2024 ABA 509

Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.

Metric NU UT
BigLaw (501+) 64.1% 42.5%
Judicial Clerkships 7.4% 15.8%
Median Salary (Private) - $225,000
Employment Rate 95.6% 96.4%
Bar Pass Rate 91.8% 95.6%

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