California-San Francisco vs. San Diego: Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared
Both are California law schools. On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, San Diego is the more selective admit (median LSAT 163 vs 161); San Diego posts the higher first-time bar passage (84.8% vs 83.84%); California-San Francisco is cheaper on sticker tuition ($53,087 vs $66,950); San Diego places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (98.3% vs 91.2%).
Side by side (ABA Standard 509)
| Metric | California-San Francisco | San Diego | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admissions | |||
| Median LSAT | 161 | 163 | San Diego |
| Median undergraduate GPA | 3.71 | 3.84 | San Diego |
| Acceptance rate | 27.5% | 23.5% | San Diego |
| Cost | |||
| Resident tuition | $53,087 | $66,950 | California-San Francisco |
| Non-resident tuition | $61,773 | $66,950 | California-San Francisco |
| Median grant | $20,000 | $32,000 | San Diego |
| Bar passage | |||
| First-time bar passage | 83.84% | 84.8% | San Diego |
| Two-year ultimate bar passage | 89.67% | 91.63% | San Diego |
| Bar passage vs. state average | +6 pts | +7 pts | San Diego |
| Employment | |||
| Full-time, long-term JD employment | 91.2% | 98.3% | San Diego |
| Large-firm (250+) employment | 28% | 17.3% | California-San Francisco |
| Federal clerkships | 0% | 2.1% | San Diego |
15-year trajectory
Full profiles & related
California-San Francisco full profile · San Diego full profile · All California law schools
FAQ
Is California-San Francisco or San Diego harder to get into?
San Diego is the tougher admit — its median LSAT is 163 against California-San Francisco's 161.
Which is cheaper, California-San Francisco or San Diego?
California-San Francisco is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $53,087 versus San Diego's $66,950.
Which has better bar passage, California-San Francisco or San Diego?
San Diego has the higher first-time bar passage, 84.8% against California-San Francisco's 83.84%.
Which has better job outcomes, California-San Francisco or San Diego?
San Diego places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (98.3% vs 91.2%).
California-San Francisco 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), San Diego 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.