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Head-to-head · 27 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 96% chose UVA. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 27 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.

27
cross-admits
3
cycles
-10pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 27 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
University of Virginia logo Chose UVA
96%
Chose UMN University of Minnesota logo
4%

Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025

per year
$35,000
66.0% get a grant
$39,078 net tuition
$35,000
94.0% get a grant
$16,440 net tuition

Cross-admits who enrolled · self-reported, 3-yr award

$90,000
n = 19
—
n < 5
View all-time (56 cross-admits)
96% chose UVA 4% chose UMN

Trend · UVA's share

2014–2025

Lowest cycle

90%

Highest cycle

100%
3 cycles
100 50 0 14 23 25 2014: 100% 2023: 100% 2025: 90%
UVA #7 · UMN #23 LSD n≈8/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
University of Virginia logo
UVA
Charlottesville, Virginia
University of Minnesota logo
UMN
Minneapolis, Minnesota
USN Rank
#4
#22
LSD Rank
#7 (1.450)
#23 (0.029)
LSAT 25th
168
166
LSAT Median
173
171
LSAT 75th
175
173
GPA Median
3.99
3.88
Acceptance Rate
10.2%
26.7%
Class Size
309
228
Yield Rate
44.1%
24.8%

Financial

Sticker price and scholarship aid
2025 ABA 509
Metric
University of Virginia logo
UVA
Charlottesville, Virginia
University of Minnesota logo
UMN
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Tuition (In-State)
$74,078
$51,440
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$76,396
$61,845
Median Grant
$35,000
$35,000
% Receiving Grants
66.0%
94.0%

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2025 ABA Employment
Metric
University of Virginia logo
UVA
Charlottesville, Virginia
University of Minnesota logo
UMN
Minneapolis, Minnesota
BigLaw (501+)
64.0%
17.6%
Federal Clerkships
10.7%
3.2%
State & Local Clerkships
1.3%
23.0%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
98.7%
95.5%
Bar Pass Rate
95.0%
94.1%

Overview

About UVA vs UMN

Across 27 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 96% enrolled at University of Virginia and 4% at University of Minnesota. The split has shifted -10 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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Compare another pair

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Detailed comparison narrative

This page compares University of Virginia and University of Minnesota across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 27 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 27 applicants admitted to both schools, 96% 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 #22 — a gap of 18 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

University of Virginia is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 10.2% compared to University of Minnesota's 26.7%.

University of Virginia is located in Charlottesville, Virginia, while University of Minnesota is in Minneapolis, Minnesota. 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 17.6% for the other school. This 46 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, University of Minnesota has lower tuition at $51,440 per year compared to $74,078. Combined with employment rates of 98.7% (UVA) and 95.5% (UMN), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.