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Head-to-head · 25 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 88% chose ND. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 25 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.

25
cross-admits
5
cycles
+0pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 25 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
University of Notre Dame logo Chose ND
88%
Chose UIUC University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign logo
12%

Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025

per year
$30,000
92.0% get a grant
$43,430 net tuition
$32,000
99.0% get a grant
$4,500 net tuition

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

$97,500
n = 20
n < 5
View all-time (70 cross-admits)
83% chose ND 17% chose UIUC

Trend · ND's share

2008–2024

Lowest cycle

71%

Highest cycle

100%
5 cycles
100 50 0 08 09 21 23 24 2008: 100% 2009: 88% 2021: 83% 2023: 71% 2024: 100%
ND #17 · UIUC #32 LSD n≈7/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
University of Notre Dame logo
ND
South Bend, Indiana
University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign logo
UIUC
Champaign, Illinois
USN Rank
#20
#46
LSD Rank
#17 (0.099)
#32 (0.015)
LSAT 25th
166
160
LSAT Median
170
166
LSAT 75th
171
168
GPA Median
3.89
3.81
Acceptance Rate
16.1%
32.9%
Class Size
185
188
Yield Rate
31.6%
26.5%

Financial

Sticker price and scholarship aid
2025 ABA 509
Metric
University of Notre Dame logo
ND
South Bend, Indiana
University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign logo
UIUC
Champaign, Illinois
Tuition (In-State)
$73,430
$36,500
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$73,430
$46,500
Median Grant
$30,000
$32,000
% Receiving Grants
92.0%
99.0%

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2025 ABA Employment
Metric
University of Notre Dame logo
ND
South Bend, Indiana
University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign logo
UIUC
Champaign, Illinois
BigLaw (501+)
30.5%
28.1%
Federal Clerkships
17.1%
4.6%
State & Local Clerkships
6.7%
3.3%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
95.1%
96.1%
Bar Pass Rate
92.2%
93.6%

Overview

About ND vs UIUC

Across 25 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 88% enrolled at University of Notre Dame and 12% at University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign.

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.

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Detailed comparison narrative

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 25 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 25 applicants admitted to both schools, 88% 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 #46 — a gap of 26 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 95.1% (ND) and 96.1% (UIUC), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.