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 (94.2% vs 94.0%); California-Los Angeles is cheaper on sticker tuition ($59,084 vs $84,034); California-Los Angeles places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (97.0% vs 96.5%).
Side by side (ABA Standard 509)
| Metric | California-Los Angeles | Southern California | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admissions | |||
| Median LSAT | 171 | 169 | California-Los Angeles |
| Median undergraduate GPA | 3.95 | 3.91 | California-Los Angeles |
| Acceptance rate | 12.1% | 11.2% | Southern California |
| Cost | |||
| Resident tuition | $59,084 | $84,034 | California-Los Angeles |
| Non-resident tuition | $71,329 | $84,034 | California-Los Angeles |
| Median grant | $24,456 | $40,092 | Southern California |
| Bar passage | |||
| First-time bar passage | 94.2% | 94.0% | California-Los Angeles |
| Two-year ultimate bar passage | 97.0% | 95.7% | California-Los Angeles |
| Bar passage vs. state average | +15.4 pts | +15.3 pts | California-Los Angeles |
| Employment | |||
| Full-time, long-term JD employment | 97.0% | 96.5% | California-Los Angeles |
| Large-firm (250+) employment | 56.3% | 63.0% | Southern California |
| Federal clerkships | 3.9% | 3.5% | California-Los Angeles |
trajectory since 2011
Full profiles & related
California-Los Angeles full profile · Southern California full profile · Pin both on the interactive map → · 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, 94.2% against Southern California's 94.0%.
Which has better job outcomes, California-Los Angeles or Southern California?
California-Los Angeles places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (97.0% 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.