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Side-by-side comparison of admissions, costs, and outcomes
Cross-Admit Decision Data
Of 16 applicants admitted to both schools:
Based on 16 self-reported cross-admit decisions from the last 5 cycles
View all-time data (52 cross-admits)
52 total cross-admit decisions (all cycles)
PSU-Dickinson is Top 75 · Temple University is #44 in the LSD rankings
See full LSD.Law school rankings →About this comparison
This page compares Pennsylvania State - Dickinson Law and Temple University across admissions data, cost of attendance, and employment outcomes using official ABA 509 disclosures.
In the U.S. News rankings, Temple University is ranked #50 compared to #59 — a gap of 9 positions that often correlates with differences in employment outcomes and peer assessment scores.
There is a meaningful difference in admissions competitiveness: Temple University has a median LSAT of 165 compared to 159, a gap of 6 points. This suggests applicants to Temple University face a more competitive admissions pool.
Temple University is significantly more selective, with an acceptance rate of 24.4% compared to Pennsylvania State - Dickinson Law's 43.0%.
Both schools are located in Pennsylvania — Pennsylvania State - Dickinson Law in Carlisle and Temple University in Philadelphia — meaning graduates often compete in the same regional legal market.
On cost, Temple University has lower tuition at $32,588 per year compared to $60,048. Combined with employment rates of 93.0% (PSU-Dickinson) and 93.8% (Temple University), prospective students should weigh the cost-to-outcome ratio carefully.
Among cross-admitted applicants, Pennsylvania State - Dickinson Law offered a median scholarship of $154,500 compared to $90,000, a difference of $64,500 that may factor into enrollment decisions.
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Admissions Comparison
2025 ABA 509How these schools compare on LSAT, GPA, selectivity, and class composition.
| Metric | PSU-Dickinson | Temple University |
|---|---|---|
| USN Rank | #59 | #50 ▲ |
| LSD Rank | Top 75 (0.006) | #44 (0.013) ▲ |
| LSAT 25th | 157 | 162 ▲ |
| LSAT Median | 159 | 165 ▲ |
| LSAT 75th | 161 | 168 ▲ |
| GPA Median | 3.71 | 3.76 ▲ |
| Acceptance Rate | 43.0% | 24.4% ▲ |
| Class Size | 215 | 237 |
| Yield Rate | 25.3% | 31.3% ▲ |
Financial Comparison
2025 ABA 509Tuition, scholarships, and debt burden at each school.
| Metric | PSU-Dickinson | Temple University |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (In-State) | $60,048 | $32,588 ▲ |
| Tuition (Out-of-State) | $60,048 | $48,996 ▲ |
| Median Grant | $36,000 ▲ | $31,334 |
| % Receiving Grants | 100.0% ▲ | 85.0% |
| Avg. Debt at Graduation | - | - |
Employment Outcomes
2024 ABA 509Post-graduation employment placement, salaries, and bar passage.
| Metric | PSU-Dickinson | Temple University |
|---|---|---|
| BigLaw (501+) | 8.3% | 18.2% ▲ |
| Judicial Clerkships | 7.0% | 15.6% ▲ |
| Median Salary (Private) | - | $150,000 |
| Employment Rate | 93.0% | 93.8% ▲ |
| Bar Pass Rate | 87.0% | 90.3% ▲ |
Cross-Admit Decisions by Cycle
How cross-admit preferences have shifted over recent application cycles.
| Cycle | Split | Total |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-2023 |
33%
|
6 |
| 2020-2021 |
50%
|
6 |
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