The call

Arizona State University vs. California-Davis: Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared

On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, California-Davis posts the higher first-time bar passage (88.9% vs 87.5%); Arizona State University is cheaper on sticker tuition ($28,390 vs $57,460); California-Davis places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (94.6% vs 92.8%).

Side by side (ABA Standard 509)

MetricArizona State UniversityCalifornia-DavisBetter
Admissions
Median LSAT165165Tie
Median undergraduate GPA3.913.70Arizona State University
Acceptance rate19.8%16.0%California-Davis
Cost
Resident tuition$28,390$57,460Arizona State University
Non-resident tuition$52,099$69,705Arizona State University
Median grant$20,000$25,000California-Davis
Bar passage
First-time bar passage87.5%88.9%California-Davis
Two-year ultimate bar passage94.5%92.8%Arizona State University
Bar passage vs. state average+12.5 pts+11.2 ptsArizona State University
Employment
Full-time, long-term JD employment92.8%94.6%California-Davis
Large-firm (250+) employment17.3%25.5%California-Davis
Federal clerkships2.1%1.5%Arizona State University

trajectory since 2011

First-time bar passage: 85.9% in 2011 to 87.5% in 202570.0%75.0%80.0%85.0%90.0%95.0%111315182022242587.5%
First-time bar passage · 2011–2025
Arizona State University — First-time bar passage
First-time bar passage: 80.5% in 2011 to 88.9% in 202570.0%75.0%80.0%85.0%90.0%111315182022242588.9%
First-time bar passage · 2011–2025
California-Davis — First-time bar passage
Resident tuition: $24,471 in 2011 to $28,390 in 2025$24,000$26,000$28,000$30,0001113151719212325$28,390
Resident tuition · 2011–2025
Arizona State University — Resident tuition
Resident tuition: $46,485 in 2011 to $57,460 in 2025$45,000$50,000$55,000$60,0001113151719212325$57,460
Resident tuition · 2011–2025
California-Davis — Resident tuition

Full profiles & related

FAQ

Which is cheaper, Arizona State University or California-Davis?

Arizona State University is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $28,390 versus California-Davis's $57,460.

Which has better bar passage, Arizona State University or California-Davis?

California-Davis has the higher first-time bar passage, 88.9% against Arizona State University's 87.5%.

Which has better job outcomes, Arizona State University or California-Davis?

California-Davis places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (94.6% vs 92.8%).

Arizona State University vs California-Davis: which is better?

It depends on what you weigh — the table above shows where each wins. Across the four headline measures (selectivity, sticker cost, first-time bar passage, and JD employment), California-Davis leads on more of them, but read the row that matters most to you rather than the count.

Source: ABA Standard 509 Required Disclosures, most recent reported cycle. Last updated June 26, 2026.

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