This page compares Stanford University and University of Chicago across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 91 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 91 applicants admitted to both schools, 88% chose to attend Stanford University. 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: #1 and #2, separated by just 1 positions, making cross-admit data especially useful for deciding between them.

Stanford University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 6.1% compared to University of Chicago's 9.7%.

Stanford University is located in Stanford, California, while University of Chicago is in Chicago, 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 Chicago places 59.7% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 45.3% for the other school. This 14 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, Stanford University has lower tuition at $77,454 per year compared to $83,316. Combined with employment rates of 92.1% (SLS) and 98.1% (UC), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants who enrolled, those choosing University of Chicago reported a higher median scholarship — $295,000 versus $152,579 over three years — though aid is one of several factors behind the enrollment decision.