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University of Virginia vs Yale University

Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes

Cross-Admit Decision Data

Of 47 applicants admitted to both schools:

0%
100%
Median scholarship: $180,000 Median scholarship: $169,113

Based on 47 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles

View all-time data (130 cross-admits)
1% chose UVA 99% chose YLS

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.

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University of Virginia
vs
Yale University

Admissions Comparison

2025 ABA 509

How 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 509

Tuition, 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 509

Post-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%

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