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 21 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 21 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 #40 — a gap of 36 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 64.0% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 9.6% for the other school. This 54 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 98.6% ('Bama) and 98.7% (UVA), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Alabama offered a median scholarship of $132,150 compared to $105,000, a difference of $27,150 that may factor into enrollment decisions.