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Head-to-head · 24 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 75% chose Loyola Marymount. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 24 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.

24
cross-admits
7
cycles
-28pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 24 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles logo Chose Loyola Marymount
75%
Chose Pepperdine University Pepperdine University logo
25%

Median scholarship (chose Loyola Marymount)

$143,750 / yr

Median scholarship (chose Pepperdine University)

$90,000 / yr
View all-time (88 cross-admits)
71% chose Loyola Marymount 29% chose Pepperdine University

Trend · Loyola Marymount's share

2005–2025

Lowest cycle

40%

Highest cycle

100%
7 cycles
100 50 0 05 06 19 20 21 24 25 2005: 78% 2006: 83% 2019: 40% 2020: 90% 2021: 83% 2024: 100% 2025: 50%
Loyola Marymount #63 · Pepperdine University #100 LSD n≈7/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles logo
Loyola Marymount
Los Angeles, California
Pepperdine University logo
Pepperdine University
Malibu , California
USN Rank
#70
#46
LSD Rank
Top 75 (0.005)
75+ (0.002)
LSAT 25th
160
161
LSAT Median
163
164
LSAT 75th
165
167
GPA Median
3.74
3.85
Acceptance Rate
26.1%
23.4%
Class Size
338
227
Yield Rate
28.4%
22.3%

Financial

Sticker price and scholarship aid
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles logo
Loyola Marymount
Los Angeles, California
Pepperdine University logo
Pepperdine University
Malibu , California
Tuition (In-State)
$70,360
$72,920
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$70,360
$72,920
Median Grant
$45,000
$30,000
% Receiving Grants
62.0%
77.0%

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2025 ABA Employment
Metric
Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles logo
Loyola Marymount
Los Angeles, California
Pepperdine University logo
Pepperdine University
Malibu , California
BigLaw (501+)
16.3%
12.0%
Federal Clerkships
1.0%
1.1%
State & Local Clerkships
0.7%
1.1%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
91.0%
93.4%
Bar Pass Rate
84.2%
86.8%

Overview

About Loyola Marymount vs Pepperdine University

Across 24 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 75% enrolled at Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles and 25% at Pepperdine University. The split has shifted -28 points across the tracked cycles.

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.

Looking at a different matchup? Browse all comparisons or run a custom pair from the index.

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Detailed comparison narrative

This page compares Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles and Pepperdine University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 24 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 24 applicants admitted to both schools, 75% chose to attend Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, Pepperdine University is ranked #46 compared to #70 — a gap of 24 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

Both schools are located in California — Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles in Los Angeles and Pepperdine University in Malibu — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles offered a median scholarship of $143,750 compared to $90,000, a difference of $53,750 that may factor into enrollment decisions.