California-Irvine vs. California-Los Angeles: Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared

Both are California law schools. On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, California-Los Angeles is the more selective admit (median LSAT 171 vs 169); California-Los Angeles posts the higher first-time bar passage (94.23% vs 85.53%); California-Irvine is cheaper on sticker tuition ($59,080 vs $59,084); California-Los Angeles places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (97% vs 93.5%).

Side by side (ABA Standard 509)

MetricCalifornia-IrvineCalifornia-Los AngelesBetter
Admissions
Median LSAT169171California-Los Angeles
Median undergraduate GPA3.803.95California-Los Angeles
Acceptance rate14.9%12.1%California-Los Angeles
Cost
Resident tuition$59,080$59,084California-Irvine
Non-resident tuition$71,325$71,329California-Irvine
Median grant$25,000$24,456California-Irvine
Bar passage
First-time bar passage85.53%94.23%California-Los Angeles
Two-year ultimate bar passage92.7%96.98%California-Los Angeles
Bar passage vs. state average+7.5 pts+15.4 ptsCalifornia-Los Angeles
Employment
Full-time, long-term JD employment93.5%97%California-Los Angeles
Large-firm (250+) employment34.8%56.3%California-Los Angeles
Federal clerkships0.6%3.9%California-Los Angeles

15-year trajectory

First-time bar passage: 0% in 2012 to 85.53% in 20250%25%50%75%100%1214161921232585.53%
First-time bar passage · 2012–2025
California-Irvine — First-time bar passage
First-time bar passage: 83.33% in 2011 to 94.23% in 202580%85%90%95%100%111315182022242594.23%
First-time bar passage · 2011–2025
California-Los Angeles — First-time bar passage
Resident tuition: $43,280 in 2011 to $59,080 in 2025$40,000$45,000$50,000$55,000$60,000$65,0001113151719212325$59,080
Resident tuition · 2011–2025
California-Irvine — Resident tuition
Resident tuition: $44,922 in 2011 to $59,084 in 2025$40,000$45,000$50,000$55,000$60,000$65,0001113151719212325$59,084
Resident tuition · 2011–2025
California-Los Angeles — Resident tuition

Full profiles & related

California-Irvine full profile · California-Los Angeles full profile · All California law schools

FAQ

Is California-Irvine or California-Los Angeles harder to get into?

California-Los Angeles is the tougher admit — its median LSAT is 171 against California-Irvine's 169.

Which is cheaper, California-Irvine or California-Los Angeles?

California-Irvine is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $59,080 versus California-Los Angeles's $59,084.

Which has better bar passage, California-Irvine or California-Los Angeles?

California-Los Angeles has the higher first-time bar passage, 94.23% against California-Irvine's 85.53%.

Which has better job outcomes, California-Irvine or California-Los Angeles?

California-Los Angeles places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (97% vs 93.5%).

California-Irvine vs California-Los Angeles: 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-Los Angeles 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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