Head-to-head · 15 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 73% chose UCD. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 15 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 UCD)
View all-time (26 cross-admits)
Admissions
Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield 2025 ABA 509
Financial
Sticker price and scholarship aid 2025 ABA 509
Employment & outcomes
Post-graduation placement and bar passage 2025 ABA Employment
Related comparisons
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Overview
About Chapman University vs UCD
Across 15 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 27% enrolled at Chapman University and 73% at University of California—Davis.
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.
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Detailed comparison narrative
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 #52 compared to #112 — a gap of 60 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 22.1% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 10.0% for the other school. This 12 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 86.2% (Chapman University) and 95.6% (UCD), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
Among cross-admitted applicants, Chapman University offered a median scholarship of $195,030 compared to $87,000, a difference of $108,030 that may factor into enrollment decisions.
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