Head-to-head · 13 cross-admits
When applicants got into both, 100% chose UCI. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 13 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 UCI
Median scholarship (chose UCI)
Median scholarship (chose Chapman University)
View all-time (28 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
Related comparisons
Other popular cross-admit matchups
Overview
About UCI vs Chapman University
Across 13 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 100% enrolled at University of California—Irvine and 0% at Chapman University.
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 University of California—Irvine and Chapman University 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 #34 compared to #112 — a gap of 78 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 — University of California—Irvine in Irvine and Chapman University in Orange — 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 $195,000 compared to $75,000, a difference of $120,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.