University of California—Los Angeles logo

University of California—Los Angeles vs University of Virginia

University of Virginia logo

Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes

Cross-Admit Decision Data

Of 57 applicants admitted to both schools:

9%
91%
Median scholarship: $87,245 Median scholarship: $120,000

Based on 57 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles

View all-time data (173 cross-admits)
10% chose UCLA 90% chose UVA

173 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)

UCLA is #13 · UVA is #7 in the LSD rankings

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About this comparison

This page compares University of California—Los Angeles and University of Virginia across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 57 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 57 applicants admitted to both schools, 91% 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 #12 — a gap of 8 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

University of California—Los Angeles is located in Los Angeles, California, while University of Virginia is in Charlottesville, Virginia. 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—Los Angeles has lower tuition at $59,084 per year compared to $74,078. Combined with employment rates of 94.4% (UCLA) and 95.3% (UVA), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Virginia offered a median scholarship of $120,000 compared to $87,245, a difference of $32,755 that may factor into enrollment decisions.

Compare Another Pair

University of California—Los Angeles
vs
University of Virginia

Admissions Comparison

2025 ABA 509

How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.

Metric UCLA UVA
USN Rank #12 #4
LSD Rank #13 (0.234) #7 (1.546)
LSAT 25th 166 168
LSAT Median 171 173
LSAT 75th 172 175
GPA Median 3.95 3.99
Acceptance Rate 12.1% 10.2%
Class Size 328 309
Yield Rate 31.0% 44.1%

Financial Comparison

2025 ABA 509

Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.

Metric UCLA UVA
Tuition (In-State) $59,084 $74,078
Tuition (Out-of-State) $71,329 $76,396
Median Grant $24,456 $35,000
% Receiving Grants 83.0% 66.0%
Avg. Debt at Graduation - -

Employment Outcomes

2024 ABA 509

Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.

Metric UCLA UVA
BigLaw (501+) 50.5% 60.2%
Judicial Clerkships 6.2% 16.4%
Median Salary (Private) - -
Employment Rate 94.4% 95.3%
Bar Pass Rate 94.2% 95.0%

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