University of Chicago vs University of Virginia

This page compares University of Chicago and University of Virginia across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 58 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 58 applicants admitted to both schools, 57% chose to attend University of Chicago. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

Both schools are closely ranked in U.S. News: #3 and #4, separated by just 1 positions, making cross-admit data especially useful for deciding between them.

University of Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois, 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 48.7% for the other school. This 12 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, University of Virginia has lower tuition at $74,078 per year compared to $83,316. Combined with employment rates of 97.0% (UC) 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 $131,250 compared to $45,000, a difference of $86,250 that may factor into enrollment decisions.