California-San Francisco vs. Santa Clara University: Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared
Both are California law schools. On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, California-San Francisco is the more selective admit (median LSAT 161 vs 159); California-San Francisco posts the higher first-time bar passage (83.84% vs 74.77%); California-San Francisco is cheaper on sticker tuition ($53,087 vs $65,540); California-San Francisco places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (91.2% vs 79.8%).
Side by side (ABA Standard 509)
| Metric | California-San Francisco | Santa Clara University | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admissions | |||
| Median LSAT | 161 | 159 | California-San Francisco |
| Median undergraduate GPA | 3.71 | 3.50 | California-San Francisco |
| Acceptance rate | 27.5% | 52.6% | California-San Francisco |
| Cost | |||
| Resident tuition | $53,087 | $65,540 | California-San Francisco |
| Non-resident tuition | $61,773 | $65,540 | California-San Francisco |
| Median grant | $20,000 | $40,000 | Santa Clara University |
| Bar passage | |||
| First-time bar passage | 83.84% | 74.77% | California-San Francisco |
| Two-year ultimate bar passage | 89.67% | 83.1% | California-San Francisco |
| Bar passage vs. state average | +6 pts | -3.2 pts | California-San Francisco |
| Employment | |||
| Full-time, long-term JD employment | 91.2% | 79.8% | California-San Francisco |
| Large-firm (250+) employment | 28% | 19.2% | California-San Francisco |
| Federal clerkships | 0% | 0.5% | Santa Clara University |
15-year trajectory
Full profiles & related
California-San Francisco full profile · Santa Clara University full profile · All California law schools
FAQ
Is California-San Francisco or Santa Clara University harder to get into?
California-San Francisco is the tougher admit — its median LSAT is 161 against Santa Clara University's 159.
Which is cheaper, California-San Francisco or Santa Clara University?
California-San Francisco is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $53,087 versus Santa Clara University's $65,540.
Which has better bar passage, California-San Francisco or Santa Clara University?
California-San Francisco has the higher first-time bar passage, 83.84% against Santa Clara University's 74.77%.
Which has better job outcomes, California-San Francisco or Santa Clara University?
California-San Francisco places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (91.2% vs 79.8%).
California-San Francisco vs Santa Clara University: 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-San Francisco 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.