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University of North Carolina vs Wake Forest University

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

Cross-Admit Decision Data

Of 55 applicants admitted to both schools:

91%
9%
Median scholarship: $51,000 Median scholarship: $129,000

Based on 55 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles

View all-time data (152 cross-admits)
82% chose UNC 18% chose WFU

152 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)

UNC is #17 · WFU is #31 in the LSD rankings

See full LSD.Law school rankings →
About this comparison

This page compares University of North Carolina and Wake Forest University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 55 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 55 applicants admitted to both schools, 91% 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 #26 — a gap of 8 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

University of North Carolina is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 11.2% compared to Wake Forest University's 24.6%.

Both schools are located in North Carolina — University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.

On cost, University of North Carolina has lower tuition at $28,082 per year compared to $57,920. Combined with employment rates of 96.2% (UNC) and 97.4% (WFU), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Wake Forest University offered a median scholarship of $129,000 compared to $51,000, a difference of $78,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.

Compare Another Pair

University of North Carolina
vs
Wake Forest University

Admissions Comparison

2025 ABA 509

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

Metric UNC WFU
USN Rank #18 #26
LSD Rank #17 (0.095) #31 (0.024)
LSAT 25th 165 163
LSAT Median 168 166
LSAT 75th 169 168
GPA Median 3.89 3.79
Acceptance Rate 11.2% 24.6%
Class Size 181 204
Yield Rate 45.5% 28.3%

Financial Comparison

2025 ABA 509

Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.

Metric UNC WFU
Tuition (In-State) $28,082 $57,920
Tuition (Out-of-State) $51,320 $57,920
Median Grant $17,000 $40,000
% Receiving Grants 95.0% 76.0%
Avg. Debt at Graduation - -

Employment Outcomes

2024 ABA 509

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

Metric UNC WFU
BigLaw (501+) 24.8% 24.5%
Judicial Clerkships 10.0% 7.1%
Median Salary (Private) $175,000 $135,000
Employment Rate 96.2% 97.4%
Bar Pass Rate 92.3% 88.2%

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