Head-to-head · 12 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 83% chose UIUC. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 12 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.
Cross-admit decision
Chose SLU
Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025
per yearCross-admits who enrolled · self-reported, 3-yr award
View all-time (26 cross-admits)
Admissions
Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield 2025 ABA 509
Financial
Sticker price and scholarship aid 2025 ABA 509
Employment & outcomes
Post-graduation placement and bar passage 2025 ABA Employment
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Overview
About SLU vs UIUC
Across 12 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 17% enrolled at Saint Louis University and 83% 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.
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Detailed comparison narrative
This page compares Saint Louis University and University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.
In the U.S. News rankings, University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign is ranked #46 compared to #91 — a gap of 45 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign has a median LSAT of 166 compared to 157, a gap of 9 points. This suggests applicants to University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign face a more competitive admissions pool.
University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 32.9% compared to Saint Louis University's 56.4%.
Saint Louis University is located in St. Louis, Missouri, 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.
Employment outcomes differ substantially: University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign places 28.1% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 14.8% for the other school. This 13 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
On cost, University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign has lower tuition at $36,500 per year compared to $55,260. Combined with employment rates of 94.1% (SLU) and 96.1% (UIUC), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
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