California-Davis vs. Washington: Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared
On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, Washington posts the higher first-time bar passage (91.72% vs 88.94%); Washington is cheaper on sticker tuition ($45,927 vs $57,460); California-Davis places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (94.6% vs 88.7%).
Side by side (ABA Standard 509)
| Metric | California-Davis | Washington | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admissions | |||
| Median LSAT | 165 | 165 | Tie |
| Median undergraduate GPA | 3.70 | 3.76 | Washington |
| Acceptance rate | 15.97% | 19.6% | California-Davis |
| Cost | |||
| Resident tuition | $57,460 | $45,927 | Washington |
| Non-resident tuition | $69,705 | $57,810 | Washington |
| Median grant | $25,000 | $14,000 | California-Davis |
| Bar passage | |||
| First-time bar passage | 88.94% | 91.72% | Washington |
| Two-year ultimate bar passage | 92.82% | 96.71% | Washington |
| Bar passage vs. state average | +11.2 pts | +9.5 pts | California-Davis |
| Employment | |||
| Full-time, long-term JD employment | 94.6% | 88.7% | California-Davis |
| Large-firm (250+) employment | 25.5% | 19.8% | California-Davis |
| Federal clerkships | 1.5% | 1.7% | Washington |
15-year trajectory
Full profiles & related
California-Davis full profile · Washington full profile
FAQ
Which is cheaper, California-Davis or Washington?
Washington is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $45,927 versus California-Davis's $57,460.
Which has better bar passage, California-Davis or Washington?
Washington has the higher first-time bar passage, 91.72% against California-Davis's 88.94%.
Which has better job outcomes, California-Davis or Washington?
California-Davis places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (94.6% vs 88.7%).
California-Davis vs Washington: 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), Washington 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.