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Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
View all-time data (130 cross-admits)
130 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
UVA is #7 · YLS is #1 in the LSD rankings
See full LSD.Law school rankings →About this comparison
This page compares University of Virginia and Yale University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 47 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 47 applicants admitted to both schools, 100% chose to attend Yale University. 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: #1 and #4, separated by just 3 positions, making cross-admit data especially useful for deciding between them.
Yale University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 4.1% compared to University of Virginia's 10.2%.
University of Virginia is located in Charlottesville, Virginia, while Yale University is in New Haven, Connecticut. 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 30.7% for the other school. This 30 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Virginia offered a median scholarship of $180,000 compared to $169,113, a difference of $10,887 that may factor into enrollment decisions.
Compare Another Pair
Admissions Comparison
2025 ABA 509How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.
| Metric | UVA | YLS |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #4 | #1 ▲ |
| LSD Rank | #7 (1.701) | #1 (141.312) ▲ |
| LSAT 25th | 168 | 171 ▲ |
| LSAT Median | 173 | 174 ▲ |
| LSAT 75th | 175 | 177 ▲ |
| GPA Median | 3.99 ▲ | 3.96 |
| Acceptance Rate | 10.2% | 4.1% ▲ |
| Class Size | 309 | 204 |
| Yield Rate | 44.1% | 77.4% ▲ |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | UVA | YLS |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $74,078 ▲ | $76,636 |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | $76,396 ▲ | $76,636 |
| Median Grant | $35,000 ▲ | $34,747 |
| % Receiving Grants | 66.0% ▲ | 63.0% |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | UVA | YLS |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 60.2% ▲ | 30.7% |
| Judicial Clerkships | 16.4% | 28.8% ▲ |
| Median Salary (Private) | - | - |
| Employment Rate | 95.3% ▲ | 85.6% |
| Bar Pass Rate | 95.0% | 96.5% ▲ |
Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle
How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.
| Cycle | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025 |
0%
|
10 |
| 2023-2024 |
0%
|
11 |
| 2022-2023 |
0%
|
8 |
| 2021-2022 |
0%
|
11 |
| 2020-2021 |
0%
|
7 |
| 2019-2020 |
0%
|
7 |
| 2016-2017 |
0%
|
9 |
| 2014-2015 |
0%
|
5 |
| 2013-2014 |
0%
|
5 |
| 2007-2008 |
0%
|
7 |
| 2006-2007 |
0%
|
12 |
| 2005-2006 |
0%
|
9 |
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