Saint Louis University vs University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign

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 #48 compared to #94 — a gap of 46 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 34.0% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 7.0% for the other school. This 27 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 89.7% (SLU) and 96.6% (UIUC), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Saint Louis University offered a median scholarship of $125,000 compared to $87,750, a difference of $37,250 that may factor into enrollment decisions.