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Stanford University vs Yale University

Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes

Cross-Admit Decision Data

Of 71 applicants admitted to both schools:

13%
87%
Median scholarship: $256,000 Median scholarship: $218,500

Based on 71 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles

View all-time data (254 cross-admits)
16% chose SLS 84% chose YLS

254 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)

SLS is #2 · YLS is #1 in the LSD rankings

See full LSD.Law school rankings →
About this comparison

This page compares Stanford University and Yale University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 71 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 71 applicants admitted to both schools, 87% chose to attend Yale 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 #1, separated by just 0 positions, making cross-admit data especially useful for deciding between them.

Yale University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 4.1% compared to Stanford University's 6.1%.

Stanford University is located in Stanford, California, while Yale University is in New Haven, Connecticut. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Stanford University offered a median scholarship of $256,000 compared to $218,500, a difference of $37,500 that may factor into enrollment decisions.

Compare Another Pair

Stanford University
vs
Yale University

Admissions Comparison

2025 ABA 509

How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.

Metric SLS YLS
USN Rank #1 #1
LSD Rank #2 (22.347) #1 (141.312)
LSAT 25th 171 171
LSAT Median 173 174
LSAT 75th 176 177
GPA Median 3.96 3.96
Acceptance Rate 6.1% 4.1%
Class Size 193 204
Yield Rate 51.3% 77.4%

Financial Comparison

2025 ABA 509

Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.

Metric SLS YLS
Tuition (In-State) $77,454 $76,636
Tuition (Out-of-State) - $76,636
Median Grant $52,797 $34,747
% Receiving Grants 50.0% 63.0%
Avg. Debt at Graduation - -

Employment Outcomes

2024 ABA 509

Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.

Metric SLS YLS
BigLaw (501+) 40.2% 30.7%
Judicial Clerkships 19.1% 28.8%
Median Salary (Private) - -
Employment Rate 85.9% 85.6%
Bar Pass Rate 96.5% 96.5%

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