Arizona State University vs University of Southern California

This page compares Arizona State University and University of Southern California across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 26 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 26 applicants admitted to both schools, 100% chose to attend University of Southern California. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of Southern California is ranked #26 compared to #45 — a gap of 19 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: University of Southern California has a median LSAT of 169 compared to 165, a gap of 4 points. This suggests applicants to University of Southern California face a more competitive admissions pool.

University of Southern California is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 11.2% compared to Arizona State University's 19.8%.

Arizona State University is located in Tempe, Arizona, while University of Southern California is in Los Angeles, California. Regional placement matters: graduates tend to find employment near their law school, so location should factor into your decision alongside rankings and cost.

Employment outcomes differ substantially: University of Southern California places 56.6% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 11.0% for the other school. This 46 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, Arizona State University has lower tuition at $28,390 per year compared to $84,034. Combined with employment rates of 93.5% (ASU) and 95.5% (USC), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, University of Southern California offered a median scholarship of $120,276 compared to $96,000, a difference of $24,276 that may factor into enrollment decisions.