California Western vs. San Francisco: Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared

Both are California law schools. On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, San Francisco posts the higher first-time bar passage (74.56% vs 62.91%); San Francisco is cheaper on sticker tuition ($59,800 vs $64,720); San Francisco places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (84.2% vs 79%).

Side by side (ABA Standard 509)

MetricCalifornia WesternSan FranciscoBetter
Admissions
Median LSAT155155Tie
Median undergraduate GPA3.503.47California Western
Acceptance rate46.9%42.4%San Francisco
Cost
Resident tuition$64,720$59,800San Francisco
Non-resident tuition$64,720$59,800San Francisco
Median grant$37,440$33,718California Western
Bar passage
First-time bar passage62.91%74.56%San Francisco
Two-year ultimate bar passage73.95%83.09%San Francisco
Bar passage vs. state average-14.6 pts-3.2 ptsSan Francisco
Employment
Full-time, long-term JD employment79%84.2%San Francisco
Large-firm (250+) employment6.3%17.5%San Francisco
Federal clerkships1.5%0%California Western

15-year trajectory

First-time bar passage: 70.61% in 2011 to 62.91% in 202540%50%60%70%80%90%111315182022242562.91%
First-time bar passage · 2011–2025
California Western — First-time bar passage
First-time bar passage: 73.37% in 2011 to 74.56% in 202520%40%60%80%100%111315182022242574.56%
First-time bar passage · 2011–2025
San Francisco — First-time bar passage
Resident tuition: $42,700 in 2011 to $64,720 in 2025$40,000$50,000$60,000$70,0001113151719212325$64,720
Resident tuition · 2011–2025
California Western — Resident tuition
Resident tuition: $40,544 in 2011 to $59,800 in 2025$30,000$40,000$50,000$60,000$70,0001113151719212325$59,800
Resident tuition · 2011–2025
San Francisco — Resident tuition

Full profiles & related

California Western full profile · San Francisco full profile · All California law schools

FAQ

Which is cheaper, California Western or San Francisco?

San Francisco is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $59,800 versus California Western's $64,720.

Which has better bar passage, California Western or San Francisco?

San Francisco has the higher first-time bar passage, 74.56% against California Western's 62.91%.

Which has better job outcomes, California Western or San Francisco?

San Francisco places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (84.2% vs 79%).

California Western vs San Francisco: 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 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.

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