Loyola Marymount University-Los Angeles vs. San Diego: Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared
Both are California law schools. On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, San Diego posts the higher first-time bar passage (84.8% vs 84.19%); San Diego is cheaper on sticker tuition ($66,950 vs $70,360); San Diego places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (98.3% vs 91%).
Side by side (ABA Standard 509)
| Metric | Loyola Marymount University-Los Angeles | San Diego | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admissions | |||
| Median LSAT | 163 | 163 | Tie |
| Median undergraduate GPA | 3.74 | 3.84 | San Diego |
| Acceptance rate | 26.1% | 23.5% | San Diego |
| Cost | |||
| Resident tuition | $70,360 | $66,950 | San Diego |
| Non-resident tuition | $70,360 | $66,950 | San Diego |
| Median grant | $45,000 | $32,000 | Loyola Marymount University-Los Angeles |
| Bar passage | |||
| First-time bar passage | 84.19% | 84.8% | San Diego |
| Two-year ultimate bar passage | 93.52% | 91.63% | Loyola Marymount University-Los Angeles |
| Bar passage vs. state average | +6.5 pts | +7 pts | San Diego |
| Employment | |||
| Full-time, long-term JD employment | 91% | 98.3% | San Diego |
| Large-firm (250+) employment | 19.6% | 17.3% | Loyola Marymount University-Los Angeles |
| Federal clerkships | 1% | 2.1% | San Diego |
15-year trajectory
Full profiles & related
Loyola Marymount University-Los Angeles full profile · San Diego full profile · All California law schools
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Loyola Marymount University-Los Angeles or San Diego?
San Diego is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $66,950 versus Loyola Marymount University-Los Angeles's $70,360.
Which has better bar passage, Loyola Marymount University-Los Angeles or San Diego?
San Diego has the higher first-time bar passage, 84.8% against Loyola Marymount University-Los Angeles's 84.19%.
Which has better job outcomes, Loyola Marymount University-Los Angeles or San Diego?
San Diego places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (98.3% vs 91%).
Loyola Marymount University-Los Angeles 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.