University of Virginia vs Vanderbilt University

This page compares University of Virginia and Vanderbilt University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 100 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 100 applicants admitted to both schools, 99% 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 #14 — a gap of 10 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

University of Virginia is located in Charlottesville, Virginia, 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.

Employment outcomes differ substantially: University of Virginia places 60.2% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 47.6% for the other school. This 13 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Vanderbilt University offered a median scholarship of $153,000 compared to $120,000, a difference of $33,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.