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Head-to-head · 34 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 59% chose Vandy. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 34 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.

34
cross-admits
9
cycles
+35pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 34 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
University of Notre Dame logo Chose ND
41%
Chose Vandy Vanderbilt University logo
59%

Median scholarship (chose ND)

$150,000 / yr

Median scholarship (chose Vandy)

$108,750 / yr
View all-time (99 cross-admits)
32% chose ND 68% chose Vandy

Trend · ND's share

2004–2025

Lowest cycle

0%

Highest cycle

80%
9 cycles
100 50 0 04 07 12 19 20 21 23 24 25 2004: 40% 2007: 0% 2012: 0% 2019: 60% 2020: 80% 2021: 40% 2023: 33% 2024: 10% 2025: 75%
ND #17 · Vandy #19 LSD n≈6/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
University of Notre Dame logo
ND
South Bend, Indiana
Vanderbilt University logo
Vandy
Nashville, Tennessee
USN Rank
#20
#12
LSD Rank
#17 (0.099)
#19 (0.077)
LSAT 25th
166
167
LSAT Median
170
170
LSAT 75th
171
171
GPA Median
3.89
3.91
Acceptance Rate
16.1%
13.3%
Class Size
185
172
Yield Rate
31.6%
20.9%

Financial

Sticker price, scholarships, and debt burden
2025 ABA 509
Metric
University of Notre Dame logo
ND
South Bend, Indiana
Vanderbilt University logo
Vandy
Nashville, Tennessee
Tuition (In-State)
$73,430
$76,440
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$73,430
$76,440
Median Grant
$30,000
$32,792
% Receiving Grants
92.0%
90.0%
Avg. Debt at Graduation
-
-

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2024 ABA Employment
Metric
University of Notre Dame logo
ND
South Bend, Indiana
Vanderbilt University logo
Vandy
Nashville, Tennessee
BigLaw (501+)
39.6%
47.6%
Judicial Clerkships
21.9%
11.4%
Median Salary (Private)
$215,000
$215,000
Employment Rate
95.2%
94.6%
Bar Pass Rate
92.2%
94.5%

Overview

About ND vs Vandy

Across 34 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 41% enrolled at University of Notre Dame and 59% at Vanderbilt University. The split has shifted +35 points across the tracked cycles.

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.

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Detailed comparison narrative

This page compares University of Notre Dame and Vanderbilt University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 34 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 34 applicants admitted to both schools, 59% chose to attend Vanderbilt University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, Vanderbilt University is ranked #12 compared to #20 — a gap of 8 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

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

Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Notre Dame offered a median scholarship of $150,000 compared to $108,750, a difference of $41,250 that may factor into enrollment decisions.