California-Davis vs. San Diego: Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared
Both are California law schools. On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, California-Davis is the more selective admit (median LSAT 165 vs 163); California-Davis posts the higher first-time bar passage (88.94% vs 84.8%); California-Davis is cheaper on sticker tuition ($57,460 vs $66,950); San Diego places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (98.3% vs 94.6%).
Side by side (ABA Standard 509)
| Metric | California-Davis | San Diego | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admissions | |||
| Median LSAT | 165 | 163 | California-Davis |
| Median undergraduate GPA | 3.70 | 3.84 | San Diego |
| Acceptance rate | 15.97% | 23.5% | California-Davis |
| Cost | |||
| Resident tuition | $57,460 | $66,950 | California-Davis |
| Non-resident tuition | $69,705 | $66,950 | San Diego |
| Median grant | $25,000 | $32,000 | San Diego |
| Bar passage | |||
| First-time bar passage | 88.94% | 84.8% | California-Davis |
| Two-year ultimate bar passage | 92.82% | 91.63% | California-Davis |
| Bar passage vs. state average | +11.2 pts | +7 pts | California-Davis |
| Employment | |||
| Full-time, long-term JD employment | 94.6% | 98.3% | San Diego |
| Large-firm (250+) employment | 25.5% | 17.3% | California-Davis |
| Federal clerkships | 1.5% | 2.1% | San Diego |
15-year trajectory
Full profiles & related
California-Davis full profile · San Diego full profile · All California law schools
FAQ
Is California-Davis or San Diego harder to get into?
California-Davis is the tougher admit — its median LSAT is 165 against San Diego's 163.
Which is cheaper, California-Davis or San Diego?
California-Davis is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $57,460 versus San Diego's $66,950.
Which has better bar passage, California-Davis or San Diego?
California-Davis has the higher first-time bar passage, 88.94% against San Diego's 84.8%.
Which has better job outcomes, California-Davis or San Diego?
San Diego places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (98.3% vs 94.6%).
California-Davis vs San Diego: 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.