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Head-to-head · 15 cross-admits

When applicants got into both, 87% chose UCHastings. Side-by-side on admissions, costs, and outcomes — sourced from 15 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.

15
cross-admits
2
cycles
+20pt
YoY shift

Cross-admit decision

Of 15 applicants admitted to both schools
Last 5 cycles
University of the Pacific (Mcgeorge) logo Chose Pacific (Mcgeorge)
13%
Chose UCHastings University of California (Hastings) logo
87%

Typical aid · ABA 509 · 2025

per year
$30,426
93.0% get a grant
$32,252 net tuition
$20,000
86.0% get a grant
$33,087 net tuition

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

n < 5
$77,500
n = 10
View all-time (43 cross-admits)
5% chose Pacific (Mcgeorge) 95% chose UCHastings

Trend · Pacific (Mcgeorge)'s share

2007–2025

Lowest cycle

0%

Highest cycle

20%
2 cycles
100 50 0 07 25 2007: 0% 2025: 20%
Pacific (Mcgeorge) #123 · UCHastings #53 LSD n≈5/yr

Admissions

Rankings, LSAT/GPA, acceptance & yield
2025 ABA 509
Metric
University of the Pacific (Mcgeorge) logo
Pacific (Mcgeorge)
Sacramento, California
University of California (Hastings) logo
UCHastings
San Francisco, California
USN Rank
#152
#85
LSD Rank
75+ (0.001)
Top 75 (0.006)
LSAT 25th
153
158
LSAT Median
156
161
LSAT 75th
160
163
GPA Median
3.52
3.71
Acceptance Rate
54.4%
27.5%
Class Size
213
380
Yield Rate
31.2%
29.6%

Financial

Sticker price and scholarship aid
2025 ABA 509
Metric
University of the Pacific (Mcgeorge) logo
Pacific (Mcgeorge)
Sacramento, California
University of California (Hastings) logo
UCHastings
San Francisco, California
Tuition (In-State)
$62,678
$53,087
Tuition (Out-of-State)
$62,678
$61,773
Median Grant
$30,426
$20,000
% Receiving Grants
93.0%
86.0%

Employment & outcomes

Post-graduation placement and bar passage
2025 ABA Employment
Metric
University of the Pacific (Mcgeorge) logo
Pacific (Mcgeorge)
Sacramento, California
University of California (Hastings) logo
UCHastings
San Francisco, California
BigLaw (501+)
3.4%
22.9%
Federal Clerkships
1.4%
0.0%
State & Local Clerkships
0.7%
2.3%
Median Salary (Private)
-
-
Employment Rate
84.5%
94.9%
Bar Pass Rate
70.5%
83.8%

Overview

About Pacific (Mcgeorge) vs UCHastings

Across 15 applicants admitted to both schools and self-reporting on LSD, 13% enrolled at University of the Pacific (Mcgeorge) and 87% at University of California (Hastings). The split has shifted +20 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 University of the Pacific (Mcgeorge) and University of California (Hastings) across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.

In the U.S. News rankings, University of California (Hastings) is ranked #85 compared to #152 — a gap of 67 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.

There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: University of California (Hastings) has a median LSAT of 161 compared to 156, a gap of 5 points. This suggests applicants to University of California (Hastings) face a more competitive admissions pool.

University of California (Hastings) is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 27.5% 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 (Hastings) in San Francisco — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.

Employment outcomes differ substantially: University of California (Hastings) places 22.9% of graduates into large law firm positions, compared to 3.4% for the other school. This 20 percentage point gap is significant for applicants targeting BigLaw careers.

On cost, University of California (Hastings) has lower tuition at $53,087 per year compared to $62,678. Combined with employment rates of 84.5% (Pacific (Mcgeorge)) and 94.9% (UCHastings), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.