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Head-to-head · 36 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 56% chose UT. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 36 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.

36
cross-admits
20
cycles
-43pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 36 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
University of Texas at Austin logo Chose UT
56%
Chose Vandy Vanderbilt University logo
44%

Median scholarship (chose UT)

$97,500 / yr

Median scholarship (chose Vandy)

$153,000 / yr
View all-time (169 cross-admits)
66% chose UT 34% chose Vandy

Trend · UT's share

2005–2025

Lowest cycle

17%

Highest cycle

100%
20 cycles
100 50 0 05 06 07 08 09 10 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 2005: 60% 2006: 80% 2007: 27% 2008: 67% 2009: 64% 2010: 55% 2012: 100% 2013: 86% 2014: 75% 2015: 67% 2016: 80% 2017: 56% 2018: 75% 2019: 88% 2020: 100% 2021: 44% 2022: 75% 2023: 88% 2024: 40% 2025: 17%
UT #15 · Vandy #19 LSD n≈8/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
University of Texas at Austin logo
UT
Austin, Texas
Vanderbilt University logo
Vandy
Nashville, Tennessee
USN Rank
#16
#12
LSD Rank
#15 (0.165)
#19 (0.077)
LSAT 25th
166
167
LSAT Median
172
170
LSAT 75th
173
171
GPA Median
3.89
3.91
Acceptance Rate
14.0%
13.3%
Class Size
373
172
Yield Rate
41.0%
20.9%

Financial

Sticker price and scholarship aid
2025 ABA 509
Metric
University of Texas at Austin logo
UT
Austin, Texas
Vanderbilt University logo
Vandy
Nashville, Tennessee
Tuition (In-State)
$38,236
$76,440
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$56,822
$76,440
Median Grant
$23,375
$32,792
% Receiving Grants
94.0%
90.0%

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2025 ABA Employment
Metric
University of Texas at Austin logo
UT
Austin, Texas
Vanderbilt University logo
Vandy
Nashville, Tennessee
BigLaw (501+)
39.3%
46.7%
Federal Clerkships
14.3%
10.8%
State & Local Clerkships
3.9%
3.6%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
99.4%
98.8%
Bar Pass Rate
95.6%
94.5%

Overview

About UT vs Vandy

Across 36 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 56% enrolled at University of Texas at Austin and 44% at Vanderbilt University. The split has shifted -43 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.

Deciding between UT and Vandy? Work with a consultant who knows both — backed by this exact data.
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Compare another pair

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Detailed comparison narrative

This page compares University of Texas at Austin and Vanderbilt University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 36 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 36 applicants admitted to both schools, 56% chose to attend University of Texas at Austin. 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: #12 and #16, separated by just 4 positions, making cross-admit data especially useful for deciding between them.

University of Texas at Austin is located in Austin, Texas, while Vanderbilt University is in Nashville, Tennessee. 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 Texas at Austin has lower tuition at $38,236 per year compared to $76,440. Combined with employment rates of 99.4% (UT) and 98.8% (Vandy), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Vanderbilt University offered a median scholarship of $153,000 compared to $97,500, a difference of $55,500 that may factor into enrollment decisions.