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Chapman University vs University of California—Davis
Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
Cross-Admit Decision Data
Of 13 applicants admitted to both schools:
Based on 13 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles
View all-time data (22 cross-admits)
22 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
Chapman University is Top 150 · UCD is #44 in the LSD rankings
See full LSD.Law school rankings →About this comparison
This page compares Chapman University and University of California—Davis across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.
In the U.S. News rankings, University of California—Davis is ranked #50 compared to #104 — a gap of 54 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
Both schools are located in California — Chapman University in Orange and University of California—Davis in Davis — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.
Employment outcomes differ substantially: University of California—Davis places 26.3% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 6.2% for the other school. This 20 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
On cost, University of California—Davis has lower tuition at $57,460 per year compared to $63,126. Combined with employment rates of 85.5% (Chapman University) and 89.3% (UCD), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
Among cross-admitted applicants, Chapman University offered a median scholarship of $193,500 compared to $87,000, a difference of $106,500 that may factor into enrollment decisions.
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Admissions Comparison
2025 ABA 509How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.
| Metric | Chapman University | UCD |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #104 | #50 ▲ |
| LSD Rank | Top 150 (0.003) | #44 (0.012) ▲ |
| LSAT 25th | 156 | 160 ▲ |
| LSAT Median | 163 | 165 ▲ |
| LSAT 75th | 164 | 167 ▲ |
| GPA Median | 3.70 | 3.70 |
| Acceptance Rate | 20.5% | 16.0% ▲ |
| Class Size | 153 | 209 |
| Yield Rate | 29.5% | 33.0% ▲ |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | Chapman University | UCD |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $63,126 | $57,460 ▲ |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | $63,126 ▲ | $69,705 |
| Median Grant | $59,500 ▲ | $25,000 |
| % Receiving Grants | 59.0% | 99.0% ▲ |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | Chapman University | UCD |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 6.2% | 26.3% ▲ |
| Judicial Clerkships | 2.1% | 5.3% ▲ |
| Median Salary (Private) | $100,000 | $200,000 ▲ |
| Employment Rate | 85.5% | 89.3% ▲ |
| Bar Pass Rate | 74.1% | 88.9% ▲ |
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