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Head-to-head · 38 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 84% chose UCBerkeley. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 38 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.

38
cross-admits
14
cycles
-22pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 38 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
University of California—Berkeley logo Chose UCBerkeley
84%
Chose UT University of Texas at Austin logo
16%

Median scholarship (chose UCBerkeley)

$105,000 / yr

Median scholarship (chose UT)

$105,000 / yr
View all-time (126 cross-admits)
91% chose UCBerkeley 9% chose UT

Trend · UCBerkeley's share

2007–2025

Lowest cycle

75%

Highest cycle

100%
14 cycles
100 50 0 07 08 09 10 11 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 25 2007: 100% 2008: 83% 2009: 88% 2010: 100% 2011: 100% 2016: 89% 2017: 100% 2018: 100% 2019: 100% 2020: 92% 2021: 75% 2022: 100% 2023: 78% 2025: 78%
UCBerkeley #10 · UT #15 LSD n≈7/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
University of California—Berkeley logo
UCBerkeley
Berkeley, California
University of Texas at Austin logo
UT
Austin, Texas
USN Rank
#16
#16
LSD Rank
#10 (0.870)
#15 (0.165)
LSAT 25th
167
166
LSAT Median
170
172
LSAT 75th
172
173
GPA Median
3.92
3.89
Acceptance Rate
14.8%
14.0%
Class Size
374
373
Yield Rate
35.7%
41.0%

Financial

Sticker price, scholarships, and debt burden
2025 ABA 509
Metric
University of California—Berkeley logo
UCBerkeley
Berkeley, California
University of Texas at Austin logo
UT
Austin, Texas
Tuition (In-State)
$62,532
-
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$76,149
-
Median Grant
$31,158
-
% Receiving Grants
86.0%
-
Avg. Debt at Graduation
-
-

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2024 ABA Employment
Metric
University of California—Berkeley logo
UCBerkeley
Berkeley, California
University of Texas at Austin logo
UT
Austin, Texas
BigLaw (501+)
52.2%
42.5%
Judicial Clerkships
12.5%
15.8%
Median Salary (Private)
-
$225,000
Employment Rate
93.6%
96.4%
Bar Pass Rate
91.2%
95.6%

Overview

About UCBerkeley vs UT

Across 38 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 84% enrolled at University of California—Berkeley and 16% at University of Texas at Austin. The split has shifted -22 points across the tracked cycles.

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 California—Berkeley and University of Texas at Austin across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 38 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 38 applicants admitted to both schools, 84% chose to attend University of California—Berkeley. 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: #16 and #16, separated by just 0 positions, making cross-admit data especially useful for deciding between them.

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