Vanderbilt University vs Yale University

This page compares Vanderbilt University and Yale University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 25 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 25 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.

In the U.S. News rankings, Yale University is ranked #1 compared to #14 — a gap of 13 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: Yale University has a median LSAT of 174 compared to 170, a gap of 4 points. This suggests applicants to Yale University face a more competitive admissions pool.

Yale University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 4.1% compared to Vanderbilt University's 13.3%.

Vanderbilt University is located in Nashville, Tennessee, 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: Vanderbilt University places 47.6% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 30.7% for the other school. This 17 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Yale University offered a median scholarship of $235,139 compared to $169,500, a difference of $65,639 that may factor into enrollment decisions.