University of California—Berkeley vs Vanderbilt University

This page compares University of California—Berkeley and Vanderbilt University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 35 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 35 applicants admitted to both schools, 94% 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: #13 and #14, separated by just 1 positions, making cross-admit data especially useful for deciding between them.

University of California—Berkeley is located in Berkeley, California, while Vanderbilt University is in Nashville, Tennessee. 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 $76,440. Combined with employment rates of 93.6% (UCBerkeley) and 94.6% (Vandy), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Vanderbilt University offered a median scholarship of $127,000 compared to $105,000, a difference of $22,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.