University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign vs Washington University in St. Louis

This page compares University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign and Washington University in St. Louis across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 24 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 24 applicants admitted to both schools, 96% chose to attend Washington University in St. Louis. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, Washington University in St. Louis is ranked #14 compared to #48 — a gap of 34 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: Washington University in St. Louis has a median LSAT of 175 compared to 166, a gap of 9 points. This suggests applicants to Washington University in St. Louis face a more competitive admissions pool.

Washington University in St. Louis is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 19.0% compared to University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign's 32.9%.

University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign is located in Champaign, Illinois, while Washington University in St. Louis is in St. Louis, Missouri. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.

On cost, University of Illinois—Urbana Champaign has lower tuition at $36,500 per year compared to $72,792. Combined with employment rates of 96.6% (UIUC) and 96.8% (WUSTL), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Washington University in St. Louis offered a median scholarship of $120,000 compared to $75,000, a difference of $45,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.