California Western School Of Law vs University of San Diego

This page compares California Western School Of Law and University of San Diego across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of San Diego is ranked #57 compared to #178 — a gap of 121 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: University of San Diego has a median LSAT of 163 compared to 155, a gap of 8 points. This suggests applicants to University of San Diego face a more competitive admissions pool.

University of San Diego is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 23.5% compared to California Western School Of Law's 46.9%.

Both schools are located in California — California Western School Of Law in San Diego and University of San Diego in San Diego — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.

Employment outcomes differ substantially: University of San Diego places 13.3% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 0.9% for the other school. This 12 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

Among cross-admitted applicants, California Western School Of Law offered a median scholarship of $157,500 compared to $93,750, a difference of $63,750 that may factor into enrollment decisions.