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Head-to-head · 29 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 97% chose UC. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 29 self-reported decisions and ABA 509 filings.

Choice, not ranking

These are decisions, not opinions. Scholarship offers, location, intended practice, and personal fit are all priced into the split.

29
cross-admits
11
cycles
+20pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 29 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
University of Chicago logo Chose UC
97%
Chose UT University of Texas at Austin logo
3%

Median scholarship (chose UC)

$75,000 / yr

Median scholarship (chose UT)

$105,000 / yr
View all-time (110 cross-admits)
89% chose UC 11% chose UT

Trend · UC's share

2008–2025

Lowest cycle

73%

Highest cycle

100%
11 cycles
100 50 0 08 09 10 11 16 18 19 20 21 23 25 2008: 73% 2009: 100% 2010: 88% 2011: 100% 2016: 80% 2018: 100% 2019: 100% 2020: 100% 2021: 100% 2023: 100% 2025: 92%
UC #4 · UT #15 LSD n≈6/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
University of Chicago logo
UC
Chicago, Illinois
University of Texas at Austin logo
UT
Austin, Texas
USN Rank
#2
#16
LSD Rank
#4 (2.645)
#15 (0.165)
LSAT 25th
171
166
LSAT Median
174
172
LSAT 75th
176
173
GPA Median
3.97
3.89
Acceptance Rate
9.7%
14.0%
Class Size
203
373
Yield Rate
29.8%
41.0%

Financial

Sticker price, scholarships, and debt burden
2025 ABA 509
Metric
University of Chicago logo
UC
Chicago, Illinois
University of Texas at Austin logo
UT
Austin, Texas
Tuition (In-State)
$83,316
-
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$83,316
-
Median Grant
$15,000
-
% Receiving Grants
78.0%
-
Avg. Debt at Graduation
-
-

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2024 ABA Employment
Metric
University of Chicago logo
UC
Chicago, Illinois
University of Texas at Austin logo
UT
Austin, Texas
BigLaw (501+)
48.7%
42.5%
Judicial Clerkships
28.6%
15.8%
Median Salary (Private)
$225,000
$225,000
Employment Rate
97.0%
96.4%
Bar Pass Rate
97.4%
95.6%

Overview

About UC vs UT

Across 29 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 97% enrolled at University of Chicago and 3% at University of Texas at Austin. The split has shifted +20 points across the tracked cycles.

These numbers reflect every factor that goes into a real decision: scholarship offers, geographic preference, intended practice area, and fit. Choosing one school doesn't mean it's "better" — it means the pool of cross-admits, weighing their options, ended up there more often. Pair this with the scholarship distribution and employment outcomes above for full context.

Looking at a different matchup? Browse all comparisons or run a custom pair from the index.

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Detailed comparison narrative

This page compares University of Chicago and University of Texas at Austin across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 29 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 29 applicants admitted to both schools, 97% chose to attend University of Chicago. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of Chicago is ranked #2 compared to #16 — a gap of 14 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

University of Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois, while University of Texas at Austin is in Austin, Texas. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.

Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Texas at Austin offered a median scholarship of $105,000 compared to $75,000, a difference of $30,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.