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Head-to-head · 52 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 100% chose UCLA. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 52 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.

52
cross-admits
12
cycles
+0pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 52 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
University of California—Los Angeles logo Chose UCLA
100%
Chose Loyola Marymount Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles logo
0%

Median scholarship (chose UCLA)

$45,000 / yr

Median scholarship (chose Loyola Marymount)

$165,000 / yr
View all-time (127 cross-admits)
100% chose UCLA 0% chose Loyola Marymount

Trend · UCLA's share

2005–2025
100%
every cycle (12)
100 50 0 05 06 08 09 10 13 20 21 22 23 24 25 2005: 100% 2006: 100% 2008: 100% 2009: 100% 2010: 100% 2013: 100% 2020: 100% 2021: 100% 2022: 100% 2023: 100% 2024: 100% 2025: 100%
UCLA #13 · Loyola Marymount #63 LSD n≈8/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
University of California—Los Angeles logo
UCLA
Los Angeles, California
Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles logo
Loyola Marymount
Los Angeles, California
USN Rank
#13
#70
LSD Rank
#13 (0.237)
Top 75 (0.005)
LSAT 25th
166
160
LSAT Median
171
163
LSAT 75th
172
165
GPA Median
3.95
3.74
Acceptance Rate
12.1%
26.1%
Class Size
328
338
Yield Rate
31.0%
28.4%

Financial

Sticker price, scholarships, and debt burden
2025 ABA 509
Metric
University of California—Los Angeles logo
UCLA
Los Angeles, California
Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles logo
Loyola Marymount
Los Angeles, California
Tuition (In-State)
$59,084
$70,360
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$71,329
$70,360
Median Grant
$24,456
$45,000
% Receiving Grants
83.0%
62.0%
Avg. Debt at Graduation
-
-

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2024 ABA Employment
Metric
University of California—Los Angeles logo
UCLA
Los Angeles, California
Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles logo
Loyola Marymount
Los Angeles, California
BigLaw (501+)
50.5%
16.7%
Judicial Clerkships
6.2%
2.4%
Median Salary (Private)
-
$120,000
Employment Rate
94.4%
93.2%
Bar Pass Rate
94.2%
84.2%

Overview

About UCLA vs Loyola Marymount

Across 52 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 100% enrolled at University of California—Los Angeles and 0% at Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles.

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 University of California—Los Angeles and Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 52 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 52 applicants admitted to both schools, 100% chose to attend University of California—Los Angeles. 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—Los Angeles is ranked #13 compared to #70 — a gap of 57 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: University of California—Los Angeles has a median LSAT of 171 compared to 163, a gap of 8 points. This suggests applicants to University of California—Los Angeles face a more competitive admissions pool.

University of California—Los Angeles is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 12.1% compared to Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles's 26.1%.

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

Employment outcomes differ substantially: University of California—Los Angeles places 50.5% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 16.7% for the other school. This 34 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, University of California—Los Angeles has lower tuition at $59,084 per year compared to $70,360. Combined with employment rates of 94.4% (UCLA) and 93.2% (Loyola Marymount), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles offered a median scholarship of $165,000 compared to $45,000, a difference of $120,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.