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Head-to-head · 29 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 83% chose UCD. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 29 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.

29
cross-admits
10
cycles
-17pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 29 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles logo Chose Loyola Marymount
17%
Chose UCD University of California—Davis logo
83%

Median scholarship (chose Loyola Marymount)

$135,000 / yr

Median scholarship (chose UCD)

$86,250 / yr
View all-time (89 cross-admits)
20% chose Loyola Marymount 80% chose UCD

Trend · Loyola Marymount's share

2005–2025

Lowest cycle

0%

Highest cycle

40%
10 cycles
100 50 0 05 07 08 09 17 18 20 23 24 25 2005: 33% 2007: 17% 2008: 0% 2009: 14% 2017: 20% 2018: 0% 2020: 40% 2023: 20% 2024: 0% 2025: 17%
Loyola Marymount #63 · UCD #46 LSD n≈6/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles logo
Loyola Marymount
Los Angeles, California
University of California—Davis logo
UCD
Davis, California
USN Rank
#70
#52
LSD Rank
Top 75 (0.005)
#46 (0.009)
LSAT 25th
160
160
LSAT Median
163
165
LSAT 75th
165
167
GPA Median
3.74
3.70
Acceptance Rate
26.1%
16.0%
Class Size
338
209
Yield Rate
28.4%
33.0%

Financial

Sticker price and scholarship aid
2025 ABA 509
Metric
Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles logo
Loyola Marymount
Los Angeles, California
University of California—Davis logo
UCD
Davis, California
Tuition (In-State)
$70,360
$57,460
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$70,360
$69,705
Median Grant
$45,000
$25,000
% Receiving Grants
62.0%
99.0%

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2025 ABA Employment
Metric
Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles logo
Loyola Marymount
Los Angeles, California
University of California—Davis logo
UCD
Davis, California
BigLaw (501+)
16.3%
22.1%
Judicial Clerkships
1.7%
6.9%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
91.0%
95.6%
Bar Pass Rate
84.2%
88.9%

Overview

About Loyola Marymount vs UCD

Across 29 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 17% enrolled at Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles and 83% at University of California—Davis. The split has shifted -17 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.

Deciding between Loyola Marymount and UCD? Work with a consultant who knows both — backed by this exact data.
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Detailed comparison narrative

This page compares Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles and University of California—Davis across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 29 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 29 applicants admitted to both schools, 83% chose to attend University of California—Davis. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of California—Davis is ranked #52 compared to #70 — a gap of 18 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

University of California—Davis is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 16.0% compared to Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles's 26.1%.

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

On cost, University of California—Davis has lower tuition at $57,460 per year compared to $70,360. Combined with employment rates of 91.0% (Loyola Marymount) and 95.6% (UCD), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles offered a median scholarship of $135,000 compared to $86,250, a difference of $48,750 that may factor into enrollment decisions.