San Francisco vs. Southwestern Law School: Cost, Bar Passage & Outcomes Compared
Both are California law schools. On the most recent ABA Standard 509 data, Southwestern Law School is the more selective admit (median LSAT 157 vs 155); San Francisco posts the higher first-time bar passage (74.56% vs 64.93%); San Francisco is cheaper on sticker tuition ($59,800 vs $63,160); San Francisco places more graduates in full-time JD jobs (84.2% vs 83.4%).
Side by side (ABA Standard 509)
| Metric | San Francisco | Southwestern Law School | Better |
|---|---|---|---|
| Admissions | |||
| Median LSAT | 155 | 157 | Southwestern Law School |
| Median undergraduate GPA | 3.47 | 3.51 | Southwestern Law School |
| Acceptance rate | 42.4% | 36.5% | Southwestern Law School |
| Cost | |||
| Resident tuition | $59,800 | $63,160 | San Francisco |
| Non-resident tuition | $59,800 | $63,160 | San Francisco |
| Median grant | $33,718 | $29,166 | San Francisco |
| Bar passage | |||
| First-time bar passage | 74.56% | 64.93% | San Francisco |
| Two-year ultimate bar passage | 83.09% | 87.83% | Southwestern Law School |
| Bar passage vs. state average | -3.2 pts | -12.8 pts | San Francisco |
| Employment | |||
| Full-time, long-term JD employment | 84.2% | 83.4% | San Francisco |
| Large-firm (250+) employment | 17.5% | 5.5% | San Francisco |
| Federal clerkships | 0% | 0.3% | Southwestern Law School |
15-year trajectory
Full profiles & related
San Francisco full profile · Southwestern Law School full profile · All California law schools
FAQ
Is San Francisco or Southwestern Law School harder to get into?
Southwestern Law School is the tougher admit — its median LSAT is 157 against San Francisco's 155.
Which is cheaper, San Francisco or Southwestern Law School?
San Francisco is cheaper on sticker: resident tuition of $59,800 versus Southwestern Law School's $63,160.
Which has better bar passage, San Francisco or Southwestern Law School?
San Francisco has the higher first-time bar passage, 74.56% against Southwestern Law School's 64.93%.
Which has better job outcomes, San Francisco or Southwestern Law School?
San Francisco places more graduates in full-time, long-term JD jobs (84.2% vs 83.4%).
San Francisco vs Southwestern Law School: 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.