Connection lost
Server error
Chapman University vs University of California—Irvine
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 (26 cross-admits)
26 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
Chapman University is Top 150 · UCI is #28 in the LSD rankings
See full LSD.Law school rankings →About this comparison
This page compares Chapman University and University of California—Irvine across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.
In the U.S. News rankings, University of California—Irvine is ranked #38 compared to #104 — a gap of 66 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: University of California—Irvine has a median LSAT of 169 compared to 163, a gap of 6 points. This suggests applicants to University of California—Irvine face a more competitive admissions pool.
Both schools are located in California — Chapman University in Orange and University of California—Irvine in Irvine — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.
Employment outcomes differ substantially: University of California—Irvine places 29.3% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 6.2% for the other school. This 23 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.
Among cross-admitted applicants, Chapman University offered a median scholarship of $192,780 compared to $75,000, a difference of $117,780 that may factor into enrollment decisions.
Compare Another Pair
Admissions Comparison
2025 ABA 509How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.
| Metric | Chapman University | UCI |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #104 | #38 ▲ |
| LSD Rank | Top 150 (0.003) | #28 (0.031) ▲ |
| LSAT 25th | 156 | 166 ▲ |
| LSAT Median | 163 | 169 ▲ |
| LSAT 75th | 164 | 170 ▲ |
| GPA Median | 3.70 | 3.80 ▲ |
| Acceptance Rate | 20.5% | 14.9% ▲ |
| Class Size | 153 | 189 |
| Yield Rate | 29.5% | 33.9% ▲ |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | Chapman University | UCI |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $63,126 | $59,080 ▲ |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | $63,126 ▲ | $71,325 |
| Median Grant | $59,500 ▲ | $25,000 |
| % Receiving Grants | 59.0% | 95.0% ▲ |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | Chapman University | UCI |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 6.2% | 29.3% ▲ |
| Judicial Clerkships | 2.1% | 3.0% ▲ |
| Median Salary (Private) | $100,000 | - |
| Employment Rate | 85.5% | 92.7% ▲ |
| Bar Pass Rate | 74.1% | 85.5% ▲ |
Related Comparisons
Other popular cross-admit matchups involving these schools.
Compare with Chapman University
Chapman University vs University of San Diego
23 cross-admits
Chapman University vs Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles
22 cross-admits
Chapman University vs University of California (Hastings)
13 cross-admits
Chapman University vs University of California—Davis
11 cross-admits
Chapman University vs University of California—Irvine
11 cross-admits
Compare with UCI
University of California—Irvine vs University of California—Los Angeles
36 cross-admits
University of California—Irvine vs Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles
26 cross-admits
University of California—Irvine vs University of California—Berkeley
26 cross-admits
University of California—Irvine vs University of California—Davis
25 cross-admits
University of California—Irvine vs Pepperdine University
21 cross-admits
Track Your Applications
Join 150,000+ applicants using LSD.Law to track applications, compare schools, and make data-driven decisions.