Stanford University vs University of Virginia

This page compares Stanford University and University of Virginia across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 27 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 27 applicants admitted to both schools, 89% 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 #4, separated by just 3 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 Virginia's 10.2%.

Stanford University is located in Stanford, California, 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.

Employment outcomes differ substantially: University of Virginia places 60.2% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 40.2% for the other school. This 20 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.