University of the Pacific (Mcgeorge) vs University of California—Davis

This page compares University of the Pacific (Mcgeorge) and University of California—Davis across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of California—Davis is ranked #50 compared to #163 — a gap of 113 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: University of California—Davis has a median LSAT of 165 compared to 156, a gap of 9 points. This suggests applicants to University of California—Davis face a more competitive admissions pool.

University of California—Davis is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 16.0% compared to University of the Pacific (Mcgeorge)'s 54.4%.

Both schools are located in California — University of the Pacific (Mcgeorge) in Sacramento and University of California—Davis in Davis — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.

Employment outcomes differ substantially: University of California—Davis places 26.3% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 5.5% for the other school. This 21 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, University of California—Davis has lower tuition at $57,460 per year compared to $62,678. Combined with employment rates of 85.6% (Pacific (Mcgeorge)) and 89.3% (UCD), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.

Among cross-admitted applicants, University of the Pacific (Mcgeorge) offered a median scholarship of $157,500 compared to $79,500, a difference of $78,000 that may factor into enrollment decisions.