University of Notre Dame vs University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign

This page compares University of Notre Dame and University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 23 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 23 applicants admitted to both schools, 87% chose to attend University of Notre Dame. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of Notre Dame is ranked #20 compared to #48 — a gap of 28 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: University of Notre Dame has a median LSAT of 170 compared to 166, a gap of 4 points. This suggests applicants to University of Notre Dame face a more competitive admissions pool.

University of Notre Dame is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 16.1% compared to University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign's 32.9%.

University of Notre Dame is located in South Bend, Indiana, while University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign is in Champaign, Illinois. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.

On cost, University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign has lower tuition at $36,500 per year compared to $73,430. Combined with employment rates of 95.2% (ND) 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 $135,000 compared to $97,500, a difference of $37,500 that may factor into enrollment decisions.