University of Pennsylvania vs Vanderbilt University

This page compares University of Pennsylvania and Vanderbilt University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 44 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 44 applicants admitted to both schools, 100% chose to attend University of Pennsylvania. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of Pennsylvania is ranked #5 compared to #14 — a gap of 9 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

University of Pennsylvania is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 8.1% compared to Vanderbilt University's 13.3%.

University of Pennsylvania is located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 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.

Employment outcomes differ substantially: University of Pennsylvania places 64.1% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 47.6% for the other school. This 16 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Vanderbilt University offered a median scholarship of $158,250 compared to $130,500, a difference of $27,750 that may factor into enrollment decisions.