University of Alabama vs University of Virginia

This page compares University of Alabama and University of Virginia across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 23 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 23 applicants admitted to both schools, 100% 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 #31 — a gap of 27 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: University of Virginia has a median LSAT of 173 compared to 167, a gap of 6 points. This suggests applicants to University of Virginia face a more competitive admissions pool.

University of Virginia is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 10.2% compared to University of Alabama's 25.6%.

University of Alabama is located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 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.

Employment outcomes differ substantially: University of Virginia places 60.2% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 20.1% for the other school. This 40 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, University of Alabama has lower tuition at $24,980 per year compared to $74,078. Combined with employment rates of 92.2% ('Bama) 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 $105,000 compared to $93,000, a difference of $12,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.