University of California—Berkeley vs Yale University

This page compares University of California—Berkeley and Yale University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 65 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 65 applicants admitted to both schools, 100% chose to attend Yale University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, Yale University 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: Yale University has a median LSAT of 174 compared to 170, a gap of 4 points. This suggests applicants to Yale University face a more competitive admissions pool.

Yale University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 4.1% compared to University of California—Berkeley's 14.8%.

University of California—Berkeley is located in Berkeley, California, while Yale University is in New Haven, Connecticut. 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 30.7% for the other school. This 22 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, University of California—Berkeley has lower tuition at $62,532 per year compared to $76,636. Combined with employment rates of 93.6% (UCBerkeley) and 85.6% (YLS), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Yale University offered a median scholarship of $158,000 compared to $120,000, a difference of $38,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.