Head-to-head · 11 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 82% chose Chapman University. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 11 self-reported decisions and ABA 509 filings.
Choice, not ranking
These are decisions, not opinions. Scholarship offers, location, intended practice, and personal fit are all priced into the split.
Cross-admit decision
Chose Chapman University
Median scholarship (chose Chapman University)
Median scholarship (chose Southwestern Law)
View all-time (33 cross-admits)
Admissions
Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield 2025 ABA 509
Financial
Sticker price, scholarships, and debt burden 2025 ABA 509
Employment & outcomes
Post-graduation placement and bar passage 2024 ABA Employment
Cross-admit by cycle
How preferences shifted over recent cyclesRelated comparisons
Other popular cross-admit matchups
Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles
26
University of San Diego
24
University of California (Hastings)
17
University of California—Davis
15
University of California—Irvine
13
Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles
18
Chapman University
11
University of California (Hastings)
11
Overview
About Chapman University vs Southwestern Law
Across 11 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 82% enrolled at Chapman University and 18% at Southwestern Law School.
These numbers reflect every factor that goes into a real decision: scholarship offers, geographic preference, intended practice area, and fit. Choosing one school doesn't mean it's "better" — it means the pool of cross-admits, weighing their options, ended up there more often. Pair this with the scholarship distribution and employment outcomes above for full context.
Looking at a different matchup? Browse all comparisons or run a custom pair from the index.
Compare another pair
Detailed comparison narrative
This page compares Chapman University and Southwestern Law School across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.
In the U.S. News rankings, Chapman University is ranked #112 compared to #161 — a gap of 49 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: Chapman University has a median LSAT of 163 compared to 157, a gap of 6 points. This suggests applicants to Chapman University face a more competitive admissions pool.
Chapman University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 20.5% compared to Southwestern Law School's 36.5%.
Both schools are located in California — Chapman University in Orange and Southwestern Law School in Los Angeles — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.
Among cross-admitted applicants, Chapman University offered a median scholarship of $200,916 compared to $135,000, a difference of $65,916 that may factor into enrollment decisions.