This page compares University of Virginia and University of California—Berkeley across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 64 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 64 applicants admitted to both schools, 59% chose to attend University of Virginia. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of Virginia is ranked #4 compared to #16 — a gap of 12 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

University of Virginia is located in Charlottesville, Virginia, 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 $74,078. Combined with employment rates of 98.7% (UVA) and 97.9% (UCBerkeley), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants who enrolled, those choosing University of Virginia reported a higher median scholarship — $120,000 versus $105,000 over three years — though aid is one of several factors behind the enrollment decision.