This page compares University of Chicago and University of California—Berkeley across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 66 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 66 applicants admitted to both schools, 82% chose to attend University of Chicago. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of Chicago is ranked #2 compared to #16 — a gap of 14 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: University of Chicago has a median LSAT of 174 compared to 170, a gap of 4 points. This suggests applicants to University of Chicago face a more competitive admissions pool.

University of Chicago is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 9.7% compared to University of California—Berkeley's 14.8%.

University of Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois, while University of California—Berkeley is in Berkeley, California. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.

On cost, University of California—Berkeley has lower tuition at $62,532 per year compared to $83,316. Combined with employment rates of 98.1% (UC) and 97.9% (UCBerkeley), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants who enrolled, those choosing University of California—Berkeley reported a higher median scholarship — $135,000 versus $60,000 over three years — though aid is one of several factors behind the enrollment decision.