University of Virginia vs Yale University

This page compares University of Virginia and Yale University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 42 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 42 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.