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Head-to-head · 30 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 80% chose UCD. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 30 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.

30
cross-admits
10
cycles
-10pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 30 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles logo Chose Loyola Marymount
20%
Chose UCD University of California—Davis logo
80%

Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025

per year
$45,000
62.0% get a grant
$25,360 net tuition
$25,000
99.0% get a grant
$32,460 net tuition

Cross-admits who enrolled · self-reported, 3-yr award

$142,500
n = 6
$101,250
n = 22
View all-time (90 cross-admits)
21% chose Loyola Marymount 79% 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: 23%
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%
Federal Clerkships
1.0%
1.5%
State & Local Clerkships
0.7%
5.4%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
91.0%
95.6%
Bar Pass Rate
84.2%
88.9%

Overview

About Loyola Marymount vs UCD

Across 30 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 20% enrolled at Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles and 80% at University of California—Davis. The split has shifted -10 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 University of California—Davis across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 30 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 30 applicants admitted to both schools, 80% 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 who enrolled, those choosing Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles reported a higher median scholarship — $142,500 versus $101,250 over three years — though aid is one of several factors behind the enrollment decision.