Vanderbilt University vs Wake Forest University

This page compares Vanderbilt University and Wake Forest University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 21 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 21 applicants admitted to both schools, 81% chose to attend Vanderbilt University. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, Vanderbilt University is ranked #12 compared to #30 — a gap of 18 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: Vanderbilt University has a median LSAT of 170 compared to 166, a gap of 4 points. This suggests applicants to Vanderbilt University face a more competitive admissions pool.

Vanderbilt University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 13.3% compared to Wake Forest University's 24.6%.

Vanderbilt University is located in Nashville, Tennessee, while Wake Forest University is in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. 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: Vanderbilt University places 47.6% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 24.5% for the other school. This 23 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, Wake Forest University has lower tuition at $57,920 per year compared to $76,440. Combined with employment rates of 94.6% (Vandy) and 97.4% (WFU), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Wake Forest University offered a median scholarship of $135,000 compared to $108,000, a difference of $27,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.