Head-to-head · 13 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 77% chose Utah. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 13 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.
Cross-admit decision
Median scholarship (chose Utah)
Median scholarship (chose UWashington)
Admissions
Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield 2025 ABA 509Financial
Sticker price, scholarships, and debt burden 2025 ABA 509Employment & outcomes
Post-graduation placement and bar passage 2024 ABA EmploymentCross-admit by cycle
How preferences shifted over recent cyclesOverview
About Utah vs UWashington
Across 13 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 77% enrolled at University of Utah and 23% at University of Washington.
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.
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Detailed comparison narrative
This page compares University of Utah and University of Washington across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.
In the U.S. News rankings, University of Utah is ranked #44 compared to #52 — a gap of 8 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
University of Utah is located in Salt Lake City, Utah, while University of Washington is in Seattle, Washington. 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 Utah has lower tuition at $34,721 per year compared to $45,927. Combined with employment rates of 92.6% (Utah) and 90.1% (UWashington), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Utah offered a median scholarship of $114,493 compared to $42,750, a difference of $71,743 that may factor into enrollment decisions.