University of Chicago vs Yale University

This page compares University of Chicago and Yale University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 83 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 83 applicants admitted to both schools, 95% chose to attend Yale University. 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: #1 and #3, separated by just 2 positions, making cross-admit data especially useful for deciding between them.

Yale University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 4.1% compared to University of Chicago's 9.7%.

University of Chicago is located in Chicago, Illinois, while Yale University is in New Haven, Connecticut. 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 Chicago places 48.7% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 30.7% for the other school. This 18 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, Yale University has lower tuition at $76,636 per year compared to $83,316. Combined with employment rates of 97.0% (UC) and 85.6% (YLS), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Yale University offered a median scholarship of $105,625 compared to $67,500, a difference of $38,125 that may factor into enrollment decisions.