California-Los Angeles vs. Southern California: 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 94.01%); California-Los Angeles is cheaper on sticker tuition ($59,084 vs $84,034); California-Los Angeles places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (97% vs 96.5%).

Side by side (ABA Standard 509)

MetricCalifornia-Los AngelesSouthern CaliforniaBetter
Admissions
Median LSAT171169California-Los Angeles
Median undergraduate GPA3.953.91California-Los Angeles
Acceptance rate12.1%11.2%Southern California
Cost
Resident tuition$59,084$84,034California-Los Angeles
Non-resident tuition$71,329$84,034California-Los Angeles
Median grant$24,456$40,092Southern California
Bar passage
First-time bar passage94.23%94.01%California-Los Angeles
Two-year ultimate bar passage96.98%95.73%California-Los Angeles
Bar passage vs. state average+15.4 pts+15.3 ptsCalifornia-Los Angeles
Employment
Full-time, long-term JD employment97%96.5%California-Los Angeles
Large-firm (250+) employment56.3%63%Southern California
Federal clerkships3.9%3.5%California-Los Angeles

15-year trajectory

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
First-time bar passage: 90.23% in 2011 to 94.01% in 202580%85%90%95%100%111315182022242594.01%
First-time bar passage · 2011–2025
Southern California — First-time bar passage
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
Resident tuition: $50,591 in 2011 to $84,034 in 2025$40,000$50,000$60,000$70,000$80,000$90,0001113151719212325$84,034
Resident tuition · 2011–2025
Southern California — Resident tuition

Full profiles & related

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

FAQ

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

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

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

California-Los Angeles is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $59,084 versus Southern California's $84,034.

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

California-Los Angeles has the higher first-time bar passage, 94.23% against Southern California's 94.01%.

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

California-Los Angeles places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (97% vs 96.5%).

California-Los Angeles vs Southern California: 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.

Exhibit 509 by 509αNewsletterTermsPrivacyAccessibilitySitemap● Sourced from ABA Standard 509 · Last synced June 26, 2026