University of California—Berkeley vs University of Minnesota

This page compares University of California—Berkeley and University of Minnesota across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 22 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 22 applicants admitted to both schools, 96% chose to attend University of California—Berkeley. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of California—Berkeley is ranked #13 compared to #20 — a gap of 7 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

University of California—Berkeley is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 14.8% compared to University of Minnesota's 26.7%.

University of California—Berkeley is located in Berkeley, California, while University of Minnesota is in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 California—Berkeley places 52.2% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 16.1% for the other school. This 36 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, University of Minnesota has lower tuition at $51,440 per year compared to $62,532. Combined with employment rates of 93.6% (UCBerkeley) and 95.2% (UMN), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Minnesota offered a median scholarship of $157,680 compared to $105,000, a difference of $52,680 that may factor into enrollment decisions.