Catholic University of America vs Loyola University Chicago
Where graduates end up, what each school really costs, and who gets in, side by side from each school's official ABA data. Add your LSAT and GPA to see your chances and scholarship estimates at both.
VS
Add your numbersSee your admission chances and scholarship estimates at both schools.
The short version
- Loyola University Chicago places more graduates in BigLaw or federal clerkships: 18.0% of the Class of 2025, against 12.4% at Catholic University of America.
- =About the same cost. Three years come to roughly $199K at Catholic University of America and $197K at Loyola University Chicago after the average scholarship.
- Loyola University Chicago is harder to get into: a 161 median LSAT and a 28.2% acceptance rate, against 161 and 32.4% at Catholic University of America.
- Catholic University of America has the higher first time bar pass rate: 90.4% against 85.7%.
Catholic University of America
vs
Loyola University Chicago
Where graduates go
Loyola University Chicago leads 3 of 5
12.4%
BigLaw + federal clerkships
✓18.0%
10.6%
BigLaw (501+ attorney firms)
✓17.2%
✓1.8%
Federal clerkships
0.8%
92.9%
Graduates employed
✓93.9%
✓90.4%
First time bar passage
85.7%
What it costs
Even, 2 each
$199K
Three year net cost
✓$197K
✓99%
Students receiving a scholarship
94%
$26,000/yr
Median scholarship (recipients)
✓$30,000/yr
✓$29,196/yr
Average scholarship (all students)
$26,577/yr
Who gets in
Acceptance rate: Catholic University of America 32.4% · Loyola University Chicago 28.2%
LSAT
Bars run from the 25th to the 75th percentile, with the median marked.
Catholic University of America
158161163
Loyola University Chicago
159161163
156158160162164166
GPA
Undergraduate GPA of the entering class, same scale for both schools.
Catholic University of America
3.463.683.85
Loyola University Chicago
3.553.703.83
3.403.503.603.703.803.90
Catholic University of America
Loyola University Chicago
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Frequently asked questions
Is Catholic University of America or Loyola University Chicago better for BigLaw?
Loyola University Chicago placed more of its Class of 2025 in BigLaw or federal clerkships: 18.0% against 12.4%. By BigLaw alone (firms of 501+ attorneys), Catholic University of America placed 10.6% and Loyola University Chicago placed 17.2%. Federal clerkships were 1.8% at Catholic University of America and 0.8% at Loyola University Chicago.
Which is harder to get into, Catholic University of America or Loyola University Chicago?
Catholic University of America's Fall 2025 entering class had a median LSAT of 161 and a median GPA of 3.68, with a 32.4% acceptance rate. Loyola University Chicago's had 161 and 3.70, with 28.2%. Add your LSAT and GPA above to see your estimated chances at both.
Which costs less, Catholic University of America or Loyola University Chicago?
After the average scholarship, three years cost about $199K at Catholic University of America and $197K at Loyola University Chicago, including living costs. Public schools are shown at out of state tuition. Your own scholarship can move these numbers a lot, so add your numbers above for an estimate.
Which gives more scholarship money, Catholic University of America or Loyola University Chicago?
99% of Catholic University of America students receive a scholarship, with a median award of $26,000 a year among recipients. 94% of Loyola University Chicago students receive a scholarship, with a median award of $30,000 a year among recipients.
Which has the better bar passage rate?
90.4% of Catholic University of America's first time takers passed in 2025, against 85.7% at Loyola University Chicago. Each school's profile shows how that compares with the states where its graduates sat.
Should I choose Catholic University of America or Loyola University Chicago?
It depends on your goals, your odds and your offers. Compare where each school's graduates end up, then add your LSAT and GPA above to see your estimated chances and scholarships at both. Your scholarship offer usually changes the cost more than anything else.
What a higher LSAT changes
Move the LSAT slider in the admissions calculator to watch your odds and scholarship estimates change at every school.
Figures come from each school’s official ABA disclosures. Admission chances and scholarship estimates are modeled from that data and are not predictions of any individual decision. Our data and methodology