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Stanford University vs Yale University

Yale University logo

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

Cross-Admit Decision Data

Of 57 applicants admitted to both schools:

14%
86%
Median scholarship: $256,000 Median scholarship: $220,363

Based on 57 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles

View all-time data (255 cross-admits)
16% chose SLS 84% chose YLS

255 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)

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

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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 57 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 57 applicants admitted to both schools, 86% 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 $220,363, a difference of $35,637 that may factor into enrollment decisions.

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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 (21.235) #1 (136.318)
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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