Which has a higher LSAT median, University of Pennsylvania or University of Virginia?

University of Pennsylvania has a higher median LSAT of 173, compared to 173. This is a difference of 0 points.

Which school has better BigLaw placement, University of Pennsylvania or University of Virginia?

University of Pennsylvania places 64.1% of graduates into large law firms (501+ attorneys), compared to 60.2% for the other school.

University of Pennsylvania vs University of Virginia

Q: When admitted to both University of Pennsylvania and University of Virginia, which do students choose?

Of 67 applicants admitted to both schools, 64% chose University of Pennsylvania. This is based on cross-admit decisions self-reported by LSD.Law users.

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

Cross-Admit Decision Data

Of 67 applicants admitted to both schools:

Chose UPenn Chose UVA

64%

36%

Median scholarship: $135,398 Median scholarship: $127,500

Based on 67 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles

View all-time data (287 cross-admits)

59% chose UPenn 41% chose UVA

287 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)

UPenn is #5 · UVA is #7 in the LSD rankings

See full LSD.Law school rankings →

About this comparison

This page compares University of Pennsylvania and University of Virginia across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 67 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 67 applicants admitted to both schools, 64% chose to attend University of Pennsylvania. 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: #4 and #5, separated by just 1 positions, making cross-admit data especially useful for deciding between them.

University of Pennsylvania is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 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.

Compare Another Pair

Admissions Financial Employment Trends Related

Admissions Comparison

2025 ABA 509

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

Metric	UPenn	UVA
USN Rank	#5	#4 ▲
LSD Rank	#5 (2.322) ▲	#7 (1.701)
LSAT 25th	167	168 ▲
LSAT Median	173	173
LSAT 75th	174	175 ▲
GPA Median	3.95	3.99 ▲
Acceptance Rate	8.1% ▲	10.2%
Class Size	265	309
Yield Rate	39.1%	44.1% ▲

Financial Comparison

2025 ABA 509

Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.

Metric	UPenn	UVA
Tuition (In-State)	$78,348	$74,078 ▲
Tuition (Out-of-State)	$78,348	$76,396 ▲
Median Grant	$42,246 ▲	$35,000
% Receiving Grants	59.0%	66.0% ▲
Avg. Debt at Graduation	-	-

Employment Outcomes

2024 ABA 509

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

Metric	UPenn	UVA
BigLaw (501+)	64.1% ▲	60.2%
Judicial Clerkships	9.9%	16.4% ▲
Median Salary (Private)	-	-
Employment Rate	92.8%	95.3% ▲
Bar Pass Rate	96.7% ▲	95.0%

Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle

How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.

UPenn UVA

Cycle	Split	Total
2024-2025	56% 44%	16
2023-2024	88% 12%	16
2022-2023	69% 31%	16
2021-2022	47% 53%	17
2020-2021	53% 47%	17
2019-2020	50% 50%	8
2018-2019	60% 40%	20
2017-2018	41% 59%	17
2016-2017	73% 27%	11
2014-2015	25% 75%	8
2013-2014	53% 47%	17
2012-2013	75% 25%	12
2011-2012	50% 50%	16
2009-2010	56% 44%	9
2008-2009	71% 29%	14
2007-2008	63% 37%	8
2006-2007	74% 26%	19
2005-2006	50% 50%	16
2004-2005	53% 47%	15
2003-2004	60% 40%	5