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Head-to-head · 12 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 92% chose UT. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 12 self-reported decisions and ABA 509 filings.

Choice, not ranking

These are decisions, not opinions. Scholarship offers, location, intended practice, and personal fit are all priced into the split.

12
cross-admits

Cross-admit decision

Of 12 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
University of Texas at Austin logo Chose UT
92%
Chose Texas Tech Texas Tech University logo
8%

Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025

per year
$23,375
94.0% get a grant
$14,861 net tuition
$12,000
88.0% get a grant
$10,590 net tuition

Cross-admits who enrolled · self-reported, 3-yr award

$75,000
n = 5
—
n < 5
View all-time (28 cross-admits)
96% chose UT 4% chose Texas Tech
Rank summary
UT
#15
LSD
USN #16
Texas Tech
#80
LSD
USN #85
LSD rank reflects where admitted applicants actually enroll. USN ranks come from US News.

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
University of Texas at Austin logo
UT
Austin, Texas
Texas Tech University logo
Texas Tech
Lubbock, Texas
USN Rank
#16
#85
LSD Rank
#15 (0.172)
75+ (0.003)
LSAT 25th
166
157
LSAT Median
172
159
LSAT 75th
173
160
GPA Median
3.89
3.69
Acceptance Rate
14.0%
25.6%
Class Size
373
168
Yield Rate
41.0%
32.6%

Financial

Sticker price and scholarship aid
2025 ABA 509
Metric
University of Texas at Austin logo
UT
Austin, Texas
Texas Tech University logo
Texas Tech
Lubbock, Texas
Tuition (In-State)
$38,236
$22,590
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$56,822
$33,840
Median Grant
$23,375
$12,000
% Receiving Grants
94.0%
88.0%

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2025 ABA Employment
Metric
University of Texas at Austin logo
UT
Austin, Texas
Texas Tech University logo
Texas Tech
Lubbock, Texas
BigLaw (501+)
39.3%
4.4%
Federal Clerkships
14.3%
0.7%
State & Local Clerkships
3.9%
1.5%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
99.4%
93.4%
Bar Pass Rate
95.6%
86.3%

Overview

About UT vs Texas Tech

Across 12 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 92% enrolled at University of Texas at Austin and 8% at Texas Tech University.

These numbers reflect every factor that goes into a real decision: scholarship offers, geographic preference, intended practice area, and fit. Choosing one school doesn't mean it's "better" — it means the pool of cross-admits, weighing their options, ended up there more often. Pair this with the scholarship distribution and employment outcomes above for full context.

Looking at a different matchup? Browse all comparisons or run a custom pair from the index.

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Detailed comparison narrative

This page compares University of Texas at Austin and Texas Tech University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of Texas at Austin is ranked #16 compared to #85 — a gap of 69 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: University of Texas at Austin has a median LSAT of 172 compared to 159, a gap of 13 points. This suggests applicants to University of Texas at Austin face a more competitive admissions pool.

University of Texas at Austin is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 14.0% compared to Texas Tech University's 25.6%.

Both schools are located in Texas — University of Texas at Austin in Austin and Texas Tech University in Lubbock — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.

Employment outcomes differ substantially: University of Texas at Austin places 39.3% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 4.4% for the other school. This 35 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, Texas Tech University has lower tuition at $22,590 per year compared to $38,236. Combined with employment rates of 99.4% (UT) and 93.4% (Texas Tech), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.