University of North Carolina vs University of Richmond

This page compares University of North Carolina and University of Richmond across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 20 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 20 applicants admitted to both schools, 100% chose to attend University of North Carolina. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of North Carolina is ranked #18 compared to #71 — a gap of 53 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: University of North Carolina has a median LSAT of 168 compared to 164, a gap of 4 points. This suggests applicants to University of North Carolina face a more competitive admissions pool.

University of North Carolina is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 11.2% compared to University of Richmond's 39.6%.

University of North Carolina is located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, while University of Richmond is in Richmond, Virginia. 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 North Carolina places 24.8% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 11.9% for the other school. This 13 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, University of North Carolina has lower tuition at $28,082 per year compared to $57,700. Combined with employment rates of 96.2% (UNC) and 94.7% (Richmond), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Richmond offered a median scholarship of $135,000 compared to $45,000, a difference of $90,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.