University of Notre Dame vs University of Virginia

This page compares University of Notre Dame and University of Virginia across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 36 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 36 applicants admitted to both schools, 81% chose to attend University of Virginia. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of Virginia is ranked #4 compared to #20 — a gap of 16 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

University of Virginia is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 10.2% compared to University of Notre Dame's 16.1%.

University of Notre Dame is located in South Bend, Indiana, while University of Virginia is in Charlottesville, Virginia. 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: University of Virginia places 60.2% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 39.6% for the other school. This 21 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Notre Dame offered a median scholarship of $127,500 compared to $90,000, a difference of $37,500 that may factor into enrollment decisions.