Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles vs University of Southern California

This page compares Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles and University of Southern California across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes — plus cross-admit decision data from 32 applicants admitted to both.

Based on 32 applicants admitted to both schools, 100% chose to attend University of Southern California. This cross-admit data reflects real enrollment decisions from verified law school applicants on LSD.Law.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of Southern California is ranked #26 compared to #71 — a gap of 45 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: University of Southern California has a median LSAT of 169 compared to 163, a gap of 6 points. This suggests applicants to University of Southern California face a more competitive admissions pool.

University of Southern California is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 11.2% 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 Southern California in Los Angeles — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.

Employment outcomes differ substantially: University of Southern California places 56.6% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 16.7% for the other school. This 40 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles has lower tuition at $70,360 per year compared to $84,034. Combined with employment rates of 93.2% (Loyola Marymount) and 95.5% (USC), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, Loyola Marymount University—Los Angeles offered a median scholarship of $156,000 compared to $135,000, a difference of $21,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.