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Chapman University vs University of San Diego
Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
Cross-Admit Decision Data
Of 23 applicants admitted to both schools:
Based on 23 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles
View all-time data (59 cross-admits)
59 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
Chapman University is Top 150 · USD is Top 75 in the LSD rankings
See full LSD.Law school rankings →About this comparison
This page compares Chapman University and University of San Diego across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 23 applicants admitted to both.
Based on 23 applicants admitted to both schools, 70% chose to attend University of San Diego. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.
In the U.S. News rankings, University of San Diego is ranked #57 compared to #104 — a gap of 47 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 San Diego in San Diego — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.
Among cross-admitted applicants, Chapman University offered a median scholarship of $195,060 compared to $90,000, a difference of $105,060 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 | USD |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #104 | #57 ▲ |
| LSD Rank | Top 150 (0.003) | Top 75 (0.006) ▲ |
| LSAT 25th | 156 | 160 ▲ |
| LSAT Median | 163 | 163 |
| LSAT 75th | 164 | 165 ▲ |
| GPA Median | 3.70 | 3.84 ▲ |
| Acceptance Rate | 20.5% ▲ | 23.5% |
| Class Size | 153 | 240 |
| Yield Rate | 29.5% ▲ | 24.0% |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | Chapman University | USD |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $63,126 ▲ | $66,950 |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | $63,126 ▲ | $66,950 |
| Median Grant | $59,500 ▲ | $32,000 |
| % Receiving Grants | 59.0% | 91.0% ▲ |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | Chapman University | USD |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 6.2% | 13.3% ▲ |
| Judicial Clerkships | 2.1% ▲ | 1.2% |
| Median Salary (Private) | $100,000 | $100,000 |
| Employment Rate | 85.5% | 90.8% ▲ |
| Bar Pass Rate | 74.1% | 84.8% ▲ |
Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle
How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.
Chapman University
USD
| Cycle | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-2025 |
13%
|
8 |
| 2022-2023 |
43%
|
7 |
| 2009-2010 |
50%
|
8 |
| 2007-2008 |
40%
|
5 |
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